The South-South youth exchange between Recife, Brazil, and Harare, Zimbabwe, has reached a triumphant milestone! This exchange is part of a growing movement of young people across the Slum Dwellers International (SDI) network who are using their voices to lead the fight against climate change.
20 young communicators from Brazil and Zimbabwe
This is the second exchange, following a successful first meeting in Recife, Brazil, where the Zimbabwean youth delegation travelled to visit the Brazilian youth in their own communities.
During that first trip, eighteen young people were trained in audiovisual storytelling, producing three short stories about local climate solutions in Brazil. Now, the Brazilian delegation from Rede Interação has come to Zimbabwe to continue this powerful peer-to-peer learning.
This mission was made possible through a strong collaboration between SDI, Know Your City (KYC.TV), Rede Interação (Brazil), Dialogue on Shelter (Zimbabwe), Zimbabwe Homeless People’s Federation and the Zimbabwe Young People’s Federation. The main goal of this exchange was to build on the skills we have developed over the last five years. Specifically, we aimed to:
- Identify climate change impacts that affect young people in informal settlements.
- Exchange technical media skills among twenty young people from the Zimbabwe alliance and our Brazilian guests.
- Co-create three short documentaries that serve as “knowledge products” to show the world how we adapt to environmental challenges.
Field Work in Crowborough: Three Groups, Three Stories
During the exchange, the teams headed to the Crowborough community for intensive field production. The youth split into three groups to investigate critical thematic areas:
Group 1: Sanitation and Toilets. Exploring how climate change affects health and infrastructure.
Group 2: Storm Mitigation. Documenting how the community builds resilience against strong winds and heavy rains.
Group 3: Plastic Recycling for Profit. Showcasing how cleaning the environment can also provide a way to make a living.
These films go beyond just “hard data”. They tell the lived experiences of young people.
These documentaries will soon be published on the social media platforms of SDI, KYC.TV and Dialogue on Shelter.
The connection between Brazil and Africa is about more than just making content. It is about building a network of young communicators who are active in global advocacy.
A beautiful highlight of this exchange was the sharing of the SDI ritual of savings. The Brazilian delegation was deeply moved by the leadership of Mam Fatima, a federation leader in Zimbabwe. They are now taking the experience of the savings ritual back to Brazil to implement it within their own youth movement and federation. This shows that while our languages may be different, our struggles and our solutions, like collective savings, are the same.
What’s Next?
The Brazilian delegation is returning home to strengthen a youth movement which will champion climate action in South America. Meanwhile, the films produced this week will serve as tools for advocacy, ensuring that the voices of young slum dwellers are heard by decision-makers worldwide.
Keep an eye on the KYC TV social media channels, the films are coming soon!
