Before participating in the program, I only had a faint idea of what the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) were and how they could be achieved. Thembi Gausi’s seminar, Using Theatre and the Arts to Change the World, did not only give me a deeper understanding of the SDGs, but also introduced me to the role that theatre and arts could play in the achievement of the goals. I also had the opportunity to explore my love for the environment and sustainability through the lecture on green energy. I learnt more about the history and origins of racial discrimination in the United States.
After leaving YYGS, I began to research more about the problem of dirty tap water in my community of Chomfuli, in Gutu, Zimbabwe. This had resulted in people having to walk long distances to fetch clean water, people falling ill, and people incurring extra expenses to procure clean and safe water. Having learnt about solving global challenges through YYGS, I decided to put my knowledge and skills to a test. I distributed surveys to the residents of the area and interviewed an expert in water treatment and distribution. The research process indicated to me that the contaminants of the water are, to a greater extent, non-pathogenic. Consequently, I’m designing a low-cost water filtration system that makes use of locally available materials to solve the problem. I already have the prototype which is still undergoing the testing phase.