National Catholic Students Movement Win Big at Innovation Challenge
By Wallace Mawire
The National Movement for Catholic Students recently won the first prize in a Youth Engagement For Accountability in Zimbabwe (YEAZ) innovations pitch challenge held in Harare.
The YEAZ project flexible initiatives to support youth innovations titled:The Explosion was organized by the YEAZ consortium supported by East West Management Institute and funded by USAID in Zimbabwe.
The Youth Empowerment and Transformation Trust (YETT) is also a member of the YEAZ consortium and was involved in the organization of the youth challenge.
The National Movement for Catholic Students won the first prize of US$5000,seconded by Miss Deaf Pride Zimbabwe Trust who came second winning US$3000.
The third position was won by Nkabazwe Community Radio Station, who got $2000 for their pitch.
The catholic students movement won the first prize for their empowerlink pitch, a platform initiated to connect young people with job opportunities, internships, volunteer placements and essential skill building resources.
The initiative seeks to bridge the gap between the young talent and the job market in the country.
Miss Deaf Pride Zimbabwe Trust won the second prize for their interactive platform on the constitution of Zimbabwe aimed at empowering people with disabilities through digital literacy access.
Nkabazwe Community Radio Station won the thir 3D ond prize for their iniative to remove barriers affecting youth in limited access to local governance engagement.
At least six youth organizations engaged in the challenge competition.
USAID is supporting some youth initiative in Zimbabwe such as the Citizen Engagement for Accountability Activity through the East West Management Institute aimed at strengthening a culture of political and civic engagement in the country by promoting greater and more effective citizen participation in governance processes at multiple levels with a focus on improved citizen-driven development.
