The project seeks to cultivate a culture of massive youth engagement in all local processes beyond the project life span. Therefore, it is of paramount importance to coin the project in a way that promote social cohesion and unity of purpose between youths and community leaders, which is key to success of other local process such as local development and ensuring responsive service delivery. More so the project seeks assist CYDT to establish sound working relations through collaboration with other organizations such as Youth Edutainment Services Trust (Mangwe), Youth for Today and Tomorrow (Matobo), Emthonjeni Women’s Forum (Mzingwane and Insiza), Habakkuk, Zimbabwe Christian Alliance, Women Development Association in Zimbabwe, Young Women’s Alliance. At national level, CYDT is riding on the existing partnerships with NAYO, in publicizing and building momentum on youth key asks and appeal for a national endorsement. The desired impact is that young people from Matabeleland South influence the expected National Dialogue through their own demands based on their experiences, needs and aspirations. . Influencing the National Dialogue will not only enhance youth participation but also promote effective youth representation at Provincial and National levels based on the historical experiences that, youths are excluded  when it comes to political and development issues hence their interests and needs are not considered.

This project seeks to further aid young women and men in Matabeleland South to be the alternative voice and vessels of good governance in their local communities, by challenging the government of the day to respect human rights. This needs to be attained despite the lack of political will in the chosen districts. All this was actively picked during the roll out of the two previous endowment supported projects dating back from 2017 to date. Significant impact has been realized and cannot go unnoticed. From a docile cohort of young generation to a vibrant group of advocates who are keen in taking an active role in shaping their future. As such the project goes a long way in lobbying for good governance and clamour for the democratic rights as detected by the country’s constitution. Through the project CYDT empowers young people to position themselves to be influential vessels in all processes be it national or at local level. The project also promotes unity of purpose amongst youths beyond partisan politics, seeing that they establish strong movements against ill governance that has national links, by so doing ensuring that space for civic participation remain in existence. Moreover, the project adds value to the national level advocacy, where young people convene, coin their demands in regards to national dialogue process.

CYDT identified two Advocacy Issues that are of strategic concern to the organization and the wider community of Matabeleland South. The advocacy issues were identified through an elaborate process of examining problems that affect youth in Matabeleland South, followed by a close examination of the possible solutions to the identified problems and a prudent selection of those solutions that best further the values, credibility, impact, mission and vision of the organisation. CYDT advocates for guaranteed access to documentation i.e. I.D and birth certificates, for marginalised youths in Matabeleland South. CYDT also advocates for the inclusion of youths in governance and decision-making processes in Matabeleland South.

The advocacy issues were analyzed and prioritized using an Issue Choice Matrix which is a tool used to assess whether the organisation is better placed to tackle the identified problem based on five factors namely: motivation to address the issue; whether the issue falls within the organisations overall mission and vision; potential for collaborations which will result in the issue being addressed; availability of resources, i.e. financial, human, time etc., to adequately address the advocacy issue and; whether there is sufficient expertise within the organisation or amongst its partners to address the advocacy issue.

This project attempts to promote youth engagement in local affairs so that they are able to influence service delivery that is responsive to their needs. The project goes deep into raising awareness of rights holders on the roles and responsibilities of local authorities in ensuring comprehensive services. As such young people shall be empowered and capacitated (through confidence building activities) to the extent that they are able to shift focus from expecting improvement in service delivery without them taking active role in the process. It also seek to help youths realize the power within in changing the narrative of service provision in their areas.  The project goes a long way in imparting and inculcating a culture of engagement instead of confrontational tendencies. The project empowers youths to be able to hold duty bearers to account at all levels. The project work in favor of right holders and the entire community seeing that institutions of local government performs most effectively and efficiently when citizens participate meaningfully, and when they know that they are monitored and kept accountable. As such, the project provides an opportunity for youths to further communicate their expectations on service delivery to the elected leaders. This ensures that young people participate effectively in local governance processes which include budgetary,  planning and development processes.