Young Life Zimbabwe
Reaching the young people of Zimbabwe
In Zimbabwe, more than 2,500 volunteer leaders knew over 104,000 kids by name in 2023! Young Life in Zimbabwe has grown into 312 ministries with 27 national staff.
In 2023, 104,258 teens were known by name in Zimbabwe.
Zimbabwe
- Population: 16,665,409
- Main languages: Shona, Ndebele, English
- Kids Known by Name: 104,258
Zimbabwe summary
Zimbabwe (formerly Rhodesia) with a population of nearly 15 million (42% of which are under the age of 18) was once the ‘bread basket” of Southern Africa, exporting an abundance of agricultural products grown on large, well-run farms. The country has struggled to feed its people since 2000 due to drought and a land reform program in which the government seized farms from white landowners and redistributed them to black Zimbabweans. It is a beautiful country with Victoria Falls in the north and the Matopos Hills, Great Zimbabwe and granite formations in the south. President Mugabe gained power in 1980 as a war hero; however, as his control of the country has gone on the economy and political situation have declined precipitously. Inflation has been staggering and unemployment is considered to be the highest in the world.
Despite the obstacles, Young Life Zimbabwe is made up of a team of vibrant, faithful leaders. Ministry is concentrated in Bulawayo and Harare. Recently, Young Life Zimbabwe began a college ministry in Bulawayo at the National University of Science and Technology. In 2023, there were on average over 19,000 kids at outreach club and about 9,700 at campaigners each week. Over 4,000 kids and leaders attended camp in 2018 and had the opportunity to try out “Camp on Wheels.” Recent challenges and items for prayer: Some volunteer leaders are having difficulty finding work in Zimbabwe and are leaving the country for jobs in South Africa which makes ministry growth difficult; heavy rainfall and flooding in the southern part of the country (Matopos Hills) has required clubs to be cancelled as schools are closed and travel is limited.
Shots from the field
Our impact
| 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | Growth (2023) | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kids Known by Name | 28,327 |
|
70,625 | 104,258 | 48% | ||
| Avg. Kids at Clubs | 14,170 | 16,383 |
|
12,227 | 19,424 | 59% | |
| Avg. Kids in Campaigners | 6,721 | 6,310 |
|
5,250 | 9,704 | 85% | |
| Number of Ministries | 200 | 270 |
|
277 | 312 | 13% | |
| National Staff | 20 | 25 |
|
29 | 27 | -6% | |
| DGL | 13 | 15 | 15 | 11 | n/a | n/a | |
| Kids & Leaders to Camp | 4,710 | 1,240 | 763 | 2,609 | 10,064 | 285% |
Our ministries
Despite the obstacles, a talented team of associate regional directors leads a volunteer team of vibrant, faithful leaders. Young Life ministry is concentrated in Bulawayo and Harare.
Current ministry.
Current ministry.
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