In our mission to restore the health of our planet, Greenhut Trust was honored to participate in the NANGO Western Region NGO Expo and Winter School 2025, held at City Hall in the heart of Bulawayo. The event brought together a diverse group of stakeholders, including leading NGOs, grassroots organizations, young innovators, and local residents all collaborating under one roof. For Greenhut, participation was not merely about presence; it was an opportunity to stand out and share our locally developed, youth-led climate innovations with a wider audience. We are proud to announce that we received the award for Best Innovative Stand, with special recognition to the GUQUKA team for their outstanding smart bin innovation, which was developed through the YCAF Bloomberg funding.
Our exhibition was more than just a stand; it was a dynamic hub of ideas, inventions, and impact. We showcased some of our most exciting projects designed to address local challenges through sustainable innovation.
- Smart Bin Model—This is a practical, tech-enhanced waste management solution that’s tackling urban waste head-on and promoting clean cities.
- The Flying Garden was developed in collaboration with Ulwazi Technologies; a vertical farming system that aims to transform small, underutilized spaces into productive green areas, enhancing food security and promoting urban agriculture.
- Hlanyela Reforestaton Initiative in partnership with YETT seeks to empower young people to actively participate in climate action through tree growing.
- Indigenous Fruit Juices, produced by our Urban Futures partner African Food Revolution – these locally crafted beverages don’t just taste great, they support local farmers, promote biodiversity, and offer young entrepreneurs real business experience.
Our stand was brought to life by the energy and dedication of our incredible youth volunteers. From sharing the vision behind our projects to selling more than 70% of our indigenous juice stock from one of our partners African Food Revolution, they didn’t just represent Green Hut, they embodied it. These young change makers gained invaluable real-world experience in marketing, public engagement, and social entrepreneurship. As they confidently pitched our ideas to visitors, potential partners, and residents, it was a proud reminder of why we do what we do. The Expo also gave the organization the chance to build powerful new relationships. We connected with NGOs from across the region, shared ideas with residents, explored partnerships with various organizations. It brought about a strong sense of solidarity and purpose in every conversation. The Winter School workshops sparked ideas, challenged assumptions, and reminded us that the climate fight is a shared responsibility and youth are at the forefront of it.
Winning Best Innovative Stand was a moment of celebration, but it was also a challenge to keep pushing, creating, and leading. We return from the Expo even more committed to developing accessible, community-based climate solutions, creating meaningful work and learning opportunities for young people, expanding our reforestation and food systems programs and build a greener, fairer, and more sustainable Zimbabwe.
A huge thank you to NANGO Zimbabwe for organizing such a dynamic and inclusive event. To every visitor who stopped by our stand, we see you and we heard you. And to our team, our partners, and especially our youth volunteers, you are the future that we believe in.
The future is green. The future is innovative. The future is youth-led. Let’s grow it together.
