In April (2025), graduates of last year's (MiG) ‘Training of Trainers’ programme came together for three regional gatherings in Zimbabwe to reconnect, reflect on their own facilitation experiences and challenges, and share updates on the community food projects.
Funded by an (IAA) award and led by Institute for Sustainable Food member, Dr Pamela Richardson, the Make it Grow project supports community-based sustainable food initiatives in Zimbabwe to build capacity and access start-up funds and small grants, through making video proposals. Through video-making and community capacity-building, marginalised communities can raise their voices and pitch their own ideas in their own words, supporting bottom-up community development.
In 2024, Make it Grow ran a Training of Trainers programme, aiming to build organisational capacity in digital, communication and project management skills with staff from 15+ local non-profit organisations.
Wednesday 2 April – Kufunda Village
The regional gatherings began at Village, in Ruwa. Facilitators from three provinces met for a one-day workshop, reflecting on their personal and collective growth and reviewing video reports created by their community group partners. The conversations went far beyond video-making. Facilitators spoke of a deepening sense of confidence, leadership, and a sense of connection to each others’ work and purpose. They also revisited some of the skills developed through the Make it Grow training.
One facilitator reflected, “The journey has been fruitful, especially getting to know everyone. It has ignited a lot of things, in telling positive stories from Zimbabwe. There is still a lot to do but I hope it will grow and grow.”
Another shared, “We have become like family… I have also learnt many new things, which I am using out there in other work assignments.”
Tuesday 8 April– ORAP, Bulawayo
A week later, a group gathered in Bulawayo, hosted by . MiG facilitators from three south-western provinces explored all they have experienced since the training programme in 2024 and spoke of expanded networks and a deeper appreciation for the power of storytelling. They had discussions on how to support their community partners with their next video reports; as MiG has been capacity-building with trainees and partners to use participatory video as a tool for project reporting.
As one participant noted, “The community members have stepped up and taken real ownership of the project, so there will be continuity, even in my absence.”
Another participant said, “I have seen another level of myself through working with the communities. People now know what’s inside of me and I feel proud.”
Tuesday 22 April – PORET Trust, Chaseyama
The final gathering took place at in Chaseyama, where four facilitators were joined by four community groups, who had received small grants (in 2022 and 2024) after creating their own video proposals, supported by MiG. Project updates, challenges and visions for the future were shared. There was a strong spirit of collaboration and mutual support.
Across all three gatherings, one message rang clear: Make it Grow is a growing community of practice rooted in relationships beyond video-making and driven by knowledge sharing, connection and a shared purpose to build more sustainable, healthy and food-secure communities.
Make it Grow is creating real impact. People are doing things now that they would not have done without the Training of Trainers programme at a personal, professional and community level.
Participants are not only growing their skills, but building confidence, purpose and leadership. From shifting how they work with others, to supporting local ownership and sparking new livelihoods, the ripple effects are clear.
“I am learning to be a facilitator of myself. The MiG process gives everyone an opportunity to develop themselves” said one facilitator.
Another added, “Through this process, I have learned that I am patient and I am inspired to help people and to create happiness. Facilitation is to be always learning.”
These gatherings allowed each Make it Grow trainee to share the challenges and the joys that they have experienced while facilitating the different community groups to co-design and implement projects. Such wonderful learning is taking place in communities as a result of the commitment, care, courage and compassion of these facilitators. Listening to their experiences has motivated me to work on a funding proposal to ensure that additional follow-up visits for the community projects can take place this year.
Dr Pamela Richardson
School of Geography and Planning
Building solidarities are core to and will continue to shape this growing movement for community led change.