An environmental initiative that also pays school fees

The first community clean-up campaign was in Epworth. It was organised by EcoRise Girls Initiative, which Tyann Ruva Mushawedu started, she says, "because I believe young girls can help protect our environment while creating brighter futures for themselves." Since the launch the initiative has recruited 15 EcoRise Girls Ambassadors, who are "helping inspire other young people to care for the environment."

The initiative also helps keep girls from underserved communities in school. It raises funds through its activities and uses part of the proceeds to help pay school fees for some of its ambassadors "who would otherwise struggle to stay in school." "I believe that when girls are educated, they are better equipped to care for their communities and the environment," she says.

“They told me I couldn't, that's why I did.”

Tyann Ruva Mushawedu

Her school, Crawford International North Coast, featured her as a future leader. EcoRise has been invited to take part in the Safari Show, where, she says, "we will share our mission with a wider audience." The work has also been covered by NewsDay Zimbabwe.

The plans are set out in numbers. EcoRise's stated annual goals include planting 10,000 indigenous trees, cleaning five major urban communities, training 100 young Eco-Ambassadors and supporting school fees for 50 girls.

"This is only the beginning," she says. Her dream is to grow EcoRise into a movement that reaches schools and communities across Zimbabwe, "where girls lead tree planting, recycling, environmental education, and climate action projects."

"I want to prove that age is never a barrier to creating change," she says.