Young Leader from Cowdray Park Inspires Climate Action Beyond the Hackathon

Young people in Cowdray Park, Bulawayo, came together in June 2025 for a five-day climate change hackathon designed to inspire fresh, youth-led solutions to environmental challenges.

Guided by climate experts, participants explored waste management, green energy, and the role of communities in building resilience. Over the week, they debated, learned, and worked in teams to design practical ideas for greener futures.

On the final day, three winning teams pitched their projects and received €430.80 each in startup support to kick-start implementation in their communities.

One of the participants, Ernest Hove, walked away from the hackathon with more than just knowledge, he carried with him a renewed commitment to climate action.

Inspired by the week’s discussions, Ernest is now engaging young people. Educating them and sharing the knowledge he got from the climate change hackathon. He has been engaged to capacitate primary school children in Bulawayo where he also led a tree planting crusade. His commitment has already been recognized nationally, with his story featured in The Herald, Zimbabwe’s leading newspaper.

👉 Read more about Ernest’s initiative here

The Cowdray Park hackathon showed that when young people are given space, support, and encouragement, they can lead the way in tackling pressing global issues.

The hackathon was organised under the Skills for Youth Resilience Programme, funded by SERVE and Irish Aid, with the hackathon itself co-funded by the Embassy of the Netherlands in Maputo.