IHRAM WRITER Mbizo Chirasha speaks to vibrant youth development expert Mitchel Chimbga
MC: WHO IS MITCHEL CHIMBGA AND WHAT IS HER PROFESSION?
Chimbga: Mitchel Chimbga is a polymathic and transformative young leader of the Sustainable Development Goals. At her core, Mitchel Chimbga is a Christian woman whose purpose is to serve humanity. Her philosophy in life is driven from a quote by Ralph Waldo Emmerson which says, ‘to know that even one life has breathed easier because you have lived, that is the true meaning of success’. She is a philanthropist, a thought leader, a gender advocate, a human rights activist, a public speaker, a coach, a mentor and a financial literacy guru. She is currently pursuing her undergraduate degree in Social Work at the University of Zimbabwe and is set to graduate in 2025. She is also an established business women as she endeavours to establish generation wealth for her family.
MC: HOW MANY PROJECTS HAVE YOU STARTED AND WHAT ARE THEY ABOUT?
Chimbga: Over the years l have lost count but l have started quite a few passion projects that l would love to talk about. During the COVID 19 era l started a project called the Love Experience Project which was geared at helping the most vulnerable communities with basic food stuff as well as capacitating them to be financially independent through teaching them a variety of skills and loaning them start up capital. I collaborated with quite a number of organisations to make the vision possible and we were able to impact fifty families in total. I am currently doing a podcast series, Sisters Before Misters which is aimed at capacitating young girls to become financially literate as well as dispelling the notion that sisterhood communities are toxic. As a young girl myself l love seeing other women rise. I believe that we rise by lifting each other up. I also started Period Diaries though that came to an end last year which was geared towards menstrual hygiene story sharing and ending period poverty. My own menstrual hygiene story was what inspired me to do so and having access to sexual reproductive rights services is a gift. Currently, I have one huge passion project running and one about to launch in November. Empowered Youth Generation is a youth association which l founded and started in June 2024 and the Financial Glow which will be a quarterly physical event for females who are interested in growing their finances and keeping each other accountable.
MC: YOU ARE ACTIVE IN THE CIVIC SPACE SOCIETY CIRCLES AS A YOUNG LEADER OF THE PRESENT AND THE FUTURE. HOW ARE THEY COPING AND WHAT ARE YOUR EXPERIENCES?
Chimbga: The civic space has been mostly kind to me. The levels of exposure that l have manged to have has been absolutely amazing. I have worked with quite a plethora of organisations inclusive of Multi Aid Support Organisation, Terre des Hommes, YETT, GirlUp Zimbabwe, Nozizwe Mother of Nations Trust, National Aids Council and International Coaching and Mentoring Foundation just to mention a few. I have gained invaluable mentorship and guidance from those who have gone before me. I have also been exposed to many countries as a result of advocacy. There have been moments where l have encountered challenges. For example, a male counter part might offer a transactional relationship where they expect sex for opportunities. However, l have been able to survive and thrive by sticking to a set of strict principles. I’m coping very well by consistently building a reputable brand and also showing up for my work consistently. Integrity has been one of my core values .
MC: EMPOWERED YOUTH GENERATION?
Chimbga: So Empowered Youth Generation is an association registered under the Zimbabwe Youth Council. We formally got our registration status in August of 2024. Our main mandate is to empower young people especially orphans and vulnerable children for the sustainable development of Africa. Our organisation is committed to empowering young people, particularly those in marginalized communities to become active and engaged citizens. We recognise that many young people particularly children living in the streets face significant barriers in accessing services to access their civic rights. Additionally, a lack of financial literacy further exacerbates the challenges they face in navigating the complexities. Empowered Youth Generation seeks to address these gaps by providing comprehensive support and capacity building programs for young people, with focus on civic registration and financial education. By empowering young people particularly from marginalized communities, with essential civic registration support, financial literacy education and civic engagement opportunities. Empowered Youth Generation will create a more inclusive and equitable environment for youth to thrive. This holistic approach rooted in the specific needs and aspirations of young people will act as a model for organisations dedicated to unlocking the full potential of the next generation of leaders and changemakers.
MC: HAVE YOU STARTED ROLING OUT ACTIVITIES FOR EMPOWERED YOUTH GENERATION?
Chimbga: Yes, actually we have. We have currently been consistently conducting leadership seminars at the Gweru Memorial Library which is geared at capacitating young leaders to utilise their skills and talents to further the advocacy agenda. We are also part of the Midlands Climate Conversations where we want to create awareness on the impacts of Climate Change on orphans and vulnerable children. We are carrying out a entrepreneurship skills trainings at Orphanages and thus far we have been able to engage Midlands Children Hope Centre. We also carried out winter drives where we managed to reach 30 children living in the streets. We donated sanitary pads and blankets.
MC: MIDLANDS CLIMATE CONVERSATIONS?
Chimbga: Midlands Climate Conversations is basically a partnership of organisations that came together after realizing that Climate change has devastating effects on everyone. We wanted to immensely create awareness and educate young people especially about Mitigation and adaptation strategies that they can utilize.
MC: WHAT ARE YOUR PUBLICATIONS?
Chimbga: Personally l have never published anything but l am working on something, hopefully the audience will stay engaged with me.
MC: WHAT IS YOU INSPIRATION?
Chimbga: From a very young age , l just knew that l was destined for greatness. I did not at that point know what greatness looked like but when l went to the Ashesi Innovative Experience in Ghana at the age of 18 that’s when my interest was further sparked. I like to think of my service as what God called me to do. Whenever, l get tired l remember that l want to leave a legacy. When l die, l want to be remembered as the Girl who touched and changed lives for the better. I don’t have a great inspiration story but for me l think it’s inherent, a calling that l feel that l must achieve.
MC: WHERE WILL YOU BE FIVE YEARS FROM NOW?
Chimbga: I see myself as having acquired my Masters at the University of Oxford or possibly aboard and working towards my PHD. I would also like to work in a big organization preferably United Nations working with young people and women. In five years l will probably have married, a home and pet owner. My dream is to expand my philanthropic work into many countries touching young life’s in one way or the other.
Chimbga Mitchel is a young transformative leader of the Sustainable Development Goals with a particular focus on goals 1 and 2. She is a dynamic, ambitious and authentic social entrepreneur and educator who is passionate about helping young people reach their full potential. She is the founder of Empowered Youth Generation which is an organisation that seeks to empower young people for African development. It offers consultancy services to help young people and those that work with youths reach their full potential. In addition to her work with Empowered Youth Generation, she sits in the boards of various organisations. She is the Chairperson of the National Aids Council Young People’s Network board. She holds the post of VC at the Multi Aid Support Organization Youth Network. She is the Secretariate for the National Associations of Social Workers,aYETT and YALI Alumni., She is a Redcross Volunteer, a GirlUp Gweru Chairperson, Young Voices Trust Gweru Secretariate, Good Deeds Trust Project Coordinator amongst other posts. She is a GBV advocate with Plan International. She also works in coordination with SU Thuthuka taking care of children living in the streets. She is a climate advocate working in coordination with Terre Des Hommes Zimbabwe. She also offers her expertise as an independent consultant, working with Government, NGOs, and Corporates. Above all of her endeavors, she is dedicated and strives to make a positive impact on those around her. She aims at seeing every woman being empowered and independent.
