Tony Phiri
HARARE-At a time when climate change, food insecurity, and environmental degradation continue to threaten communities across Zimbabwe, Scope Zimbabwe last week brought together children, youth, young adults, educators, and community members for two transformative agroecology camps aimed at reimagining food systems and promoting sustainable living through education.
Held under the theme “Re-imagining Food,” the camps took place at the organization’s Chitubu Ecovillage and learning centre and attracted participants from primary schools, secondary schools, tertiary institutions, and community organisations across the country. The initiative formed part of Scope Zimbabwe’s broader mission to promote agroecology, environmental stewardship, heritage-based learning, and community resilience through practical education.
The children’s camp, which ran from 22 to 24 April 2026, hosted learners from Zvimba Primary School, Mazungunye Primary School, Mandindindi Primary School, Mupumbu Primary School, 2 Brigade Primary School, Matoranhembe Primary School, and Greenview Primary School and other students from local communities.
The youth and young adults camp followed from 28 to 30 April 2026 and brought together students from the University of Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe Ezekiel Guti University, Reformed Church University, and Mkoba Teachers College, alongside secondary school learners from Seke 3 High School, Chivakanenyanga Secondary School, Mazungunye High School, Duma High School, and Mukore High School. Representatives from PELUM Association Zimbabwe and several community members also participated.
According to Scope Zimbabwe, the camps were designed to empower young people with practical agroecological knowledge while strengthening cultural identity, environmental responsibility, and active citizenship. The programmes aligned with Zimbabwe’s Heritage-Based Curriculum, Education for Sustainable Development 2030 (ESD 2030), Greening the Curriculum initiatives, and efforts to activate student agency for green education.
Throughout the camps, participants engaged in experiential learning activities rooted in agroecological principles such as biodiversity conservation, recycling, soil regeneration, water management, local food systems, seed preservation, and community participation.
Learners took part in kitchen garden design, mobile gardening using recycled materials, composting, micro-drip irrigation, seed collection, nursery establishment, and the preparation of nutritious green juices from indigenous and locally available foods such as baobab, rosella, ginger, lemons, and guavas.
Traditional knowledge systems also formed a central part of the learning experience. Participants explored totems, ancestral identity, storytelling, mbira music, heritage games, and local food traditions as a way of reconnecting young people with their cultural roots and ecological heritage.
One of the key messages promoted during the camps was “My Food is African,” an approach encouraging communities to value indigenous foods, local seed systems, and sustainable diets that support both human health and environmental sustainability.
The camps further encouraged learners to become innovators and problem-solvers within their communities. Through art, vision boards, mural presentations, and collaborative discussions, participants shared ideas on how they envision greener schools, healthier food systems, and more sustainable communities by the year 2030.
Guest speakers and agroecology practitioners also motivated participants to view agriculture not merely as food production, but as a pathway towards climate resilience, entrepreneurship, employment creation, and community transformation.
Scope Zimbabwe said the camps demonstrate the importance of integrating practical environmental education into learning spaces at a time when Zimbabwe and the world are seeking sustainable solutions to ecological and economic challenges.
By combining indigenous knowledge, agroecology, creative arts, and hands-on learning, the organisation believes young people can become active agents in building resilient food systems and environmentally conscious communities for future generations.
