Learning with Community Food Initiatives in Zimbabwe.

This is a digital booklet designed for community groups interested in starting local agri-food projects, particularly in Zimbabwe.

Make it Grow is a project affiliated to the Institute for Sustainable Food, University of Sheffield. The aim of Make it Grow is to support community groups to develop, express and fundraise for their food-related project ideas, through the creation of Participatory Video Proposals. The Make it Grow process involves online workshops to support skills development. Participants gain know-how in basic smartphone video-making and project planning.
In 2024, we partnered with three Zimbabwean organisations: Kufunda Village, PORET Trust and ORAP. Community groups were supported to create and share video proposals to apply for funding, to get their food projects started. Check out our website or YouTube playlist to view some examples of Make it Grow participatory video proposals.As a result of the Make it Grow workshops and support, 29 community groups in Zimbabwe have developed proposals on video and have used them to fundraise, apply for grants, and expand their networks. Some amazing agri-food projects have been developed across the country by small, diverse and innovative community groups. This booklet shares outcomes and learnings from a selection of these community food projects, so that other communities can be inspired and informed by them.Consent has been given to publish the project portrait photos and images.The work received ethical approval: 046714