Age: 25Location: Hopley, HarareTitle: Entrepreneur (Groceries, Butchery, Gas Seller) Sophia Gomo’s journey is one of resilience and empowerment. At 25, she had endured years of gender-based violence, poverty, and the challenges of raising two children with little support. Living in Hopley, Sophia relied on shoemaking to survive, but her earnings…
Our Programs
Youth Ensemble designs and implements community-driven programs that respond to the real needs of marginalized peri-urban young people. Our programs are youth-led, inclusive, and grounded in lived experience, with a strong focus on building sustainable livelihoods, strengthening youth agency, and promoting social and economic justice. Each program area is interconnected, ensuring holistic support that empowers young people to transform their lives and communities.
Youth Economic Empowerment
Youth Ensemble supports young people to build sustainable sources of income and economic independence. This program equips youth with practical skills, financial knowledge, and access to opportunities that enable them to start, grow, and sustain viable enterprises.
Key focus areas include:
- Entrepreneurship training and mentorship
- Business management and financial literacy
- Entrepreneurship boot camps and business clinics
- Access to finance through revolving funds
- Market linkages and growth opportunities
- Support for start-ups and youth-led micro-enterprises
- Skills development for income-generating activities such as retail, services, and agribusiness
This program aims to reduce poverty, unemployment, and economic vulnerability among young people.
Technical and Vocational Skills Training
This program focuses on equipping young people with practical, employable skills that enhance their chances of securing work or creating self-employment opportunities.
Key focus areas include:
- Vocational and technical skills for employability
- Practical training for climate-smart livelihoods
- Apprenticeships, internships, and job placement support
- Skills development in areas such as hydroponics, aquaponics, mushroom farming, solar installation, recycling, and other green livelihoods
The program supports young people to transition from informal survival activities into dignified and sustainable work.
Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR)
Youth Ensemble promotes informed, healthy, and empowered decision-making among young people through comprehensive SRHR education and advocacy.
Key focus areas include:
- SRHR education and awareness for adolescents and youth
- Youth-friendly information services and safe spaces
- Gender-based violence prevention and response awareness
- Community dialogues on gender equality and SRHR
- Support in addressing drug and substance abuse
- Empowerment of adolescent girls and young women
This program strengthens well-being, safety, and dignity, enabling young people to pursue opportunities without fear or discrimination.
Youth-Led Climate Action
Youth Ensemble supports young people to become active leaders in climate action and environmental sustainability while creating green economic opportunities.
Key focus areas include:
- Climate awareness, education, and advocacy
- Training in green economy and renewable energy skills
- Support for climate-smart enterprises such as solar, recycling, and urban agriculture
- Clean-up campaigns and environmental conservation activities
- Disaster risk reduction and community resilience initiatives
This program empowers youth to protect the environment while building sustainable livelihoods.
Leadership Development and Collective Youth Agency
This program strengthens youth leadership, civic participation, and collective action to ensure young people have a voice in decisions that affect their lives.
Key focus areas include:
- Leadership development and mentorship programs
- Civic engagement and public participation training
- Policy advocacy skills development
- Platforms for youth dialogue, forums, and engagement with decision-makers
- Strengthening youth voice in governance and community development
Youth Ensemble believes that empowered young leaders are essential for inclusive and accountable societies.
Community Engagement and Social Accountability
Youth Ensemble works closely with communities, local authorities, and institutions to strengthen accountability and collaborative development.
Key focus areas include:
- Youth-government and youth-donor interface meetings
- Social accountability platforms
- Community capacity building initiatives
- Strengthening youth groups and community structures
- Collaborative approaches to local development challenges
This program ensures that young people actively participate in shaping solutions within their communities.
Organizational and Institutional Strengthening
Youth Ensemble also supports youth groups and partner organizations to become effective, transparent, and sustainable institutions.
Key focus areas include:
- Capacity building for youth-led organizations
- Training in governance, transparency, and accountability
- Support in policy and systems development
- Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning system strengthening
This program enhances long-term impact by building strong and accountable youth institutions.
Partnerships and Networking
Youth Ensemble connects young people to opportunities through strong partnerships and ecosystem building.
Key focus areas include:
- Linking youth to government ministries, NGOs, and the private sector
- Facilitating collaborations and partnerships
- Connecting youth to mentors, professionals, and resources
- Strengthening multi-stakeholder networks for youth development
Partnerships are central to expanding opportunities and scaling impact.
Stories of Change
Age: 24Location: Hopley, HarareTitle: Entrepreneur and Retail Owner When Cyclone Idai devastated Chimanimani in 2019, Perseverance Mutoo lost everything, her home, her crops, and her sense of stability. She and her family walked for days until they reached Hopley, where they hoped for a fresh start. Life in the makeshift…
Age: 23Location: Hopley, HarareTitle: Fashion Designer In the heart of Hopley, a 23-year-old fashion designer named Tinshe Raurai is breaking barriers and inspiring his community. Tinshe grew up in poverty, using a manual sewing machine at home to help his mother mend clothes. When the COVID-19 pandemic struck in 2020,…
Age: 23Location: Stoneridge, HarareTitle: Market Vendor and Jewelry Designer Varaidzo Tokotore’s story is a testament to perseverance and the power of opportunity. At just 23 years old, Varaidzo had already faced abandonment, financial instability, and the challenges of raising a child as a single mother. Living in Stoneridge, she relied…
Age: 25Location: Stoneridge, HarareTitle: Registered Grocery Shop Owner Alice Bongomwe’s story is one of resilience and transformation. At the young age of 25, Alice had already endured more challenges than most. Married at 17 and living in Stoneridge, a peri-urban settlement in Harare, she struggled to support her family. Alice…
Get Involved or Partner With Us
Youth Ensemble works with young people, communities, development partners, government institutions, and the private sector to create lasting impact. Whether you are a young person seeking opportunities, an organization looking to collaborate, or a supporter interested in our work, we welcome the opportunity to engage with you. Together, we can expand access to opportunities, strengthen youth leadership, and build resilient, inclusive communities.