In a world where climate change is often discussed in boardrooms and at international summits, two schoolgirls have decided to take action where it matters most — on the ground.
Tyann Ruva Mushawedu (13) and Joanna Munenyasha Gore (14) are the founders of Eco Rise Girls, a girl-led environmental action initiative they launched this past Saturday in Epworth.
Mushawedu is a student at Crawford International North Coast in Durban, South Africa, while Gore goes to the French International School of Harare.
With the recent launch of their initiative, the two emerging climate leaders are demonstrating a clear focus on spearheading community clean-ups, environmental education and leadership development.
Through Eco Rise Girls, they visit different areas and help communities to clean their surroundings and plant trees, with most activities carried out in collaboration with young girls in the communities they serve.
The initiative is guided by the motto, Her Future, Her Planet, Her Power, which places girls at the centre of sustainable action and is aligned with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals on Quality Education, Gender Equality and Climate Action.
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Last Saturday, the pair was in Epworth for the inaugural launch of the initiative at the ZimbosAbantu Mobile Clinic, located at Overspill shopping centre.
The launch was attended by young girls who are students at various schools in the Epworth community, including Young Africa Academy, Best Foundation, Golden Angels Academy, Adonai Primary School, Epworth High School, Muguta and Falcon Junior School.
Also present were students from the French International School of Harare, who are nationals of countries such as Angola, Niger and the Democratic Republic of Congo, offering a diverse mix of representation.
During the launch, the young girls participated in cleaning a portion of land adjacent to Epworth Safe Market, where garbage is dumped in an open area by vendors plying their trade in the vicinity.
They were provided with protective clothing and brooms.
Following the event, young girls from Epworth became ambassadors of the programme.
Their task will be to advocate for cleanliness in their community by preventing littering and planting trees both in the community and at school.
They will meet at least once a year to celebrate the impact they would have made. The organisers have hinted at having similar engagements in other communities and are appealing to partners, schools and communities to support and amplify the efforts of young people.
Mushawedu credits her entrepreneurial parents and education activist Vee Kativu as key influences behind her vision.
“Dr Kativu is a big inspiration because she has two PhDs,” she said during an interview, referring to Kativu, who attained an honours degree at the age of 25 and a PhD in Education and Leadership at 27.
“This generation has people who are hardworking and know what to do. Seeing them do this for the community with such dedication means a lot,” Mushawedu added.
Her mother, Chiedza Mushawedu, who was on site guiding the proceedings, told NewsDay Life & Style that one of the key issues the initiative seeks to address is the high prevalence rate of teenage mothers in communities such as Epworth.
“The aim is to encourage them to learn to recycle and to clean up. Eventually, they will be ambassadors of their community,” she said.
Gore added: “We think that girls have a future.
“We are trying to help them to imagine that they can do anything.
“If you have dreams, nothing is impossible.
“Don’t let anyone discourage you just because you are a girl.”
The hosts, ZimbosAbantu Mobile Clinic, is part of an ecosystem that supports women.
The clinic is adjacent to Overspill Safe Market, a gender sensitive trading space occupied by more than a hundred women who sell their commodities, designed by UN Women and supported by the European Union.
Tsungai Mugariwa, the market chairperson, led the girls on the clean-up and is at the forefront of spearheading campaigns through women’s groups that clean up Epworth between Tuesday and Friday.
Mugariwa, who is also a local health promoter, said they have taken it as a responsibility to adopt Eco Rise Girls by teaching the young participants to look after their environment by putting garbage in bins, practicing recycling, and waste segregation.
“We are teaching them how to keep our surroundings clean,” she said.
“We are also doing it for the good of their own health.”