Lupane Youth for Development (LUYD) is set to launch its new Strategic Plan for 2026–2030, marking a renewed commitment to advancing youth empowerment, economic resilience, and inclusive participation for young people in Zimbabwe. LUYD is a registered youth organization established in mid-2008 and officially registered in Zimbabwe, with a focus on strengthening the capacity of rural youth to lead sustainable development.
LUYD’s mission is youth-driven: empowering rural young people in Matabeleland North to lead sustainable development through fostering economic resilience and amplifying youth voices toward a just and inclusive future. Building on its progress, LUYD says the 2026–2030 plan is designed to bolster its impactful work not only in Matabeleland but also to contribute more broadly to general youth development and to shape policy discussions at the national level.
This new strategic direction comes after LUYD’s previous Strategic Plan, which covered the period 2021–2024. Over that time, the organization strengthened its work by supporting youth leadership and creating opportunities for young people to participate meaningfully in community development efforts. With the new plan, LUYD aims to deepen outcomes and expand its influence, especially in areas where youth face barriers to employment, skills development, and access to decision-making processes.
The Strategic Plan 2026–2030 is being facilitated by Open Space ZW, with the support of Southern Africa Trust (SAT). The Open Space ZW role is supporting LUYD through a structured process to ensure that the plan reflects the needs and priorities of youth and community on the ground. LUYD emphasized that the planning process is meant to remain grounded in reality, centering the voices of young people and ensuring that proposed actions respond to both current and emerging challenges affecting youth in Matabelaland North and across Zimbabwe.
With the Strategic Plan expected to guide the organization’s programming and partnerships over the next five years, LUYD is also positioning itself as a stronger youth-led and youth-focused platform capable of influencing policy. The organization believes that youth development efforts must go beyond project-level interventions to also strengthen advocacy and promote an enabling environment where young people can thrive economically and socially.
As LUYD prepares to roll out its new strategic priorities, the organization is calling for continued collaboration with partners, stakeholders, and youth networks to support meaningful change. Through this plan, LUYD hopes to deliver sustainable development outcomes, strengthen economic resilience among rural youth, and amplify youth voices in shaping a more inclusive future for Zimbabwean communities.
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