Young people are not just beneficiaries of change, they are leading it.
Across Zimbabwe, young people are using art, technology, digital platforms and community action to challenge harmful gender norms and speak out against gender-based violence (GBV). Yet these efforts are often fragmented and lack the resources, coordination and connections needed to create sustained change.
Through the Youth Innovators for Gender Equality and Ending GBV Initiative (#Click4ChangeToEndGBV), Restless Development Zimbabwe is supporting young people to turn their creativity, innovation and collective action into a coordinated movement for gender equality and the prevention of GBV.
About the project
#Click4ChangeToEndGBV is a youth-led initiative that brings together young artists, innovators, technology enthusiasts and young women to create and amplify new approaches to preventing gender-based violence and promoting gender equality.
The initiative recognises that young people are powerful agents of social change. By combining arts, technology, digital innovation and advocacy, the project creates opportunities for young people to influence attitudes, challenge harmful social norms and engage decision-makers on GBV prevention.
The project builds on Restless Development Zimbabwe’s experience under the Spotlight Initiative and reactivates networks of young people who have already been working to prevent GBV and advance gender equality.
#Click4ChangeToEndGBV is supported by UN Women and funded by the European Union (EU) and the Embassy of Switzerland. The initiative builds on the achievements and lessons of the Spotlight Initiative.
What are we addressing?
Gender-based violence remains a significant challenge in Zimbabwe, affecting women and girls across communities. Harmful gender norms, unequal power relations, stigma and limited access to information and support continue to contribute to GBV.
At the same time, technology-facilitated GBV is emerging as a growing concern, particularly among young people who spend significant time in digital spaces.
Young people have the creativity, digital skills and influence to challenge these norms, but their efforts are often disconnected from formal advocacy and accountability processes.
#Click4ChangeToEndGBV is designed to help bridge this gap.
What are we doing?
The project uses three interconnected approaches:
Youth-led movement building
We are supporting young people to organise, collaborate and lead initiatives that promote gender equality and prevent GBV.
The project brings together young artists, innovators, technology enthusiasts and young women, including young people from marginalised communities, to strengthen their skills and leadership.
Arts, technology and digital innovation
Creativity is at the heart of #Click4ChangeToEndGBV.
Young people will use digital campaigns, hackathons, community theatre, spoken word, poetry, murals and other creative approaches to challenge harmful gender norms and promote positive messages around gender equality and GBV prevention.
Through the #Click4ChangeToEndGBV digital campaign, young people will create and share content across platforms including TikTok, Facebook and Instagram, reaching audiences where they already connect, communicate and express themselves.
Strengthening accountability and partnerships
The project connects young innovators and youth networks with government, civil society and other stakeholders working on GBV prevention.
This will create opportunities for young people to participate in policy and accountability spaces and contribute their perspectives to national and local efforts to end GBV.
Who are we reaching?
The project will work with young people aged 15–35 across five provinces:
- Harare Metropolitan
- Bulawayo Metropolitan
- Manicaland
- Mashonaland Central
- Masvingo
The initiative will particularly seek to include young women and girls, young people with disabilities, young people living with HIV, and young people from rural and peri-urban communities.
By the numbers
450+: Young innovators, artists and technology enthusiasts mobilised through the initiative
5: Provinces reached across Zimbabwe
200: Young people reached through hackathons and innovation activities
250: Young people reached through community-focused capacity building
150,000: People targeted through the #Click4Change digital campaign and Youth Power Expo
Building a movement that lasts
#Click4ChangeToEndGBV is designed to create impact beyond the project period.
Young people will be equipped with the skills, networks and platforms they need to continue leading action against GBV and gender inequality. The project will also strengthen connections between youth-led initiatives and existing national accountability structures.
The initiative will contribute to a stronger and more coordinated youth movement, while connecting young people with government, civil society, women’s rights organisations, creative industries and other partners.
A key part of this approach is the Advocacy and Innovation (AI) Circle, which brings together young leaders and creatives to provide strategic direction, strengthen the quality of campaign outputs and represent young people in national accountability spaces.
Partnerships for change
The initiative brings together young people and a broad network of partners from government, civil society, women’s rights organisations, creative industries and technology.
UN Women is supporting the initiative as both a technical partner and funder, while Restless Development Zimbabwe leads implementation.
The project also builds on the experience and networks developed through the Spotlight Initiative, strengthening the continuity of youth-led action on gender-based violence in Zimbabwe.
Our vision
We envision a Zimbabwe where young people are empowered to lead the change needed to create safer, more equal and violence-free communities.
Through #Click4ChangeToEndGBV, we are putting creativity, technology and youth leadership at the centre of the movement to end gender-based violence.
Young people have the ideas.
Young people have the influence.
Now, let’s #Click4ChangeToEndGBV.
