Community Learning and Tree Planting Bring Hope to Chipinge, Zimbabwe

This week’s Success Story comes from our Regional Coordinator in Zimbabwe, Jussa.

In this story, we are reminded that environmental restoration is about more than planting trees. It is also about bringing communities together, sharing knowledge, and creating opportunities for people to protect and restore the land they depend on.

On 22 October 2026, the Manica Youth Assembly (MAYA), together with representatives from 24 Community-Based Organisations (CBOs), participated in a community learning and solidarity visit to the Batanai/Muwangu Green Institute Hub in Mount Selinda, Chipinge District, Zimbabwe.

The visit provided an opportunity to learn directly from a functioning community-led agroforestry and natural resource management initiative.

This was MAYA’s second visit to the Green Institute Hub. Following an initial exchange, the organisation returned with 24 other community-based organisations for a more in-depth learning experience. The visit was supported by COSPE, which promotes community-to-community learning on agroecology and sustainable natural resource management.

Jussa in action

Learning from Women Leading Environmental Restoration

Jussa reports that one of the most inspiring aspects of the visit was seeing 85 community members, including 80 women and five men, working together in a shared garden.

The group gained valuable insights into the potential of women to lead environmental restoration, strengthen local food systems and promote food sovereignty when provided with the necessary support and opportunities.

The visit included an exploration of the Green Hub’s tree nursery, agroforestry plots and seed bank. These practical examples demonstrated that successful environmental restoration involves much more than planting trees. It requires strong community organisation, knowledge-sharing, collective responsibility and long-term commitment.

The experience also highlighted the importance of addressing gender imbalances in community participation and ensuring that women have meaningful opportunities to shape environmental initiatives.

Planting Trees and Growing a Shared Commitment

Inspired by what they learned, participants joined members of the Green Hub in planting indigenous and fruit trees, including 25 orange trees!

For the participating organisations, the planting represented more than an environmental activity. It was an opportunity to put their learning into practice and strengthen their shared commitment to bringing similar approaches back to their own communities in Mutare and surrounding areas.

Jussa and a female participant

A Dedication to Community and Future Generations

The trees were dedicated to the 85 community guardians of the Batanai/Muwangu Green Institute Hub, particularly the 80 women and five men of Mount Selinda Ward 19, in Chief Mutape’s area.

The dedication also recognised the 25 Community-Based Organisations that joined the learning tour and COSPE, whose support made this exchange possible.

Above all, the trees were dedicated to the women leading the restoration of their land, to Mother Earth and to the future generations of Chipinge.

As communities continue to face environmental challenges, initiatives like this remind us that lasting change begins with people working together. By sharing knowledge, supporting local leadership, and putting sustainable practices into action, communities can create a greener and more hopeful future.

Thank you for the wonderful story, Jussa. We are inspired, and we are so happy to learn about these beautiful projects happening in Southern Africa. Thank you for all the work that you and MAYA do. We appreciate you.

To learn more about Jussa’s work and ongoing projects, follow MAYA’s Facebook page. If you want to contact Jussa to support his work, send him an email at manicayouthassembly@gmail.com