Promoting self-reliance and spiritual growth

Like any young people in Zimbabwe, young Catholics are not excluded from different social, ecological and economic challenges experienced by the 21st century generation. Prevalent social ills include unemployment, immoral addictions, drug and substance abuse, teen pregnancies, abortion, early marriages, poor education and mental well-being including the ecological crisis.  These challenges have not disadvantaged young people only; the consequences have also negatively impacted the participation and involvement of the young in fulfilling the Church’s mission. It is also no doubt that many young Catholics especially in rural areas, are slowly losing the taste of their Catholic faith, a fact which thought to be caused by inadequate education on the church’s social and moral teachings among other reasons. 

In an effort to encourage a better change; the Apostolic Nunciature to Zimbabwe, through Arrupe Jesuit University Center for Ethics in Society instituted the Pope Francis Youth Award for Faith and Social Transformation in Zimbabwe (https://aju.ac.zw/ethics/popeawards/). This is an annual competition on the teachings of Pope Francis and the Catholic Social Teachings. The award is given to individuals or groups of young people who demonstrate consistency in faith and social transformation in their schools, communities or churches. 

In 2022, Young Neighbors Without Borders was shortlisted on the 6th position under Sustain Ma Earth, an initiative which focus more on environmental conservation and climate change action. 

In 2023, YNWB got the first prize award of US$1 000. The group was awarded for its small acts of compassion demonstrated in an effort to encourage self-reliance through small income generation poultry projects with young people in Mutoko, as well as addressing the social and spiritual needs of both the young and elderly people in peripheral societies.

The project entitled,’ Promoting self-reliance and spiritual growth’ therefore sought to implement the US$1 000 grant project plan so as to upscale the efforts and yield more fruitful results.