Uhuru is a network of four coordinated youth collectives in Harare working together to train youth at the grassroots in democracy and public participation, and to connect issues of day-to-day survival with the national democratic deficit. Each of the collectives carries out small, confidence-building actions that increase young activists’ abilities to reclaim power in their communities. The main areas of focus for the collectives are urban agriculture, community media, art for social change and youth sports programs, particularly soccer. Through coordinating decentralized, distributed action with civil society and other social movements, Uhuru aims to build capacity for large-scale systems change in Zimbabwe.

Activities and Accomplishments

• Hosting regular Ruzivo Circles (study circles) for youth in high-density urban neighborhoods for exploring causes of social inequity and injustice
  
  
• Monthly publication and distribution of Township Voices, a social-justice based community newsletter (3,000 copies per issue)
  
  
• Creation of permaculture gardens and organization of community clean-up days with the objective of creating more integrated, self-reliant and socially aware young people
  
  
• Organization of water rate boycotts with the aim of securing clean, affordable drinking water for all community members
  
  
• Organization of several community festivals, a combination of pro-democracy arts performances and a community forum where participants are educated on their basic socio-economic and human rights and encouraged to engage in participatory discussions to come up with solutions to day-to-day oppression
  
  
• Production of politically outspoken and radical hip-hop album, Ghetto Project,  by the Toyi Toyi Arts Kollective
  
  
• Organization of Street Soccer Activism, local soccer matches held in vacant lots near shopping centers used to highlight poor social service delivery in Harare

Find out more about Uhuru by visiting their blog.