Celebrating Community Innovation
This week ATH visited three remarkable community initiatives that are using creativity, environmental stewardship and entrepreneurship to build a stronger, more sustainable Hwange.
Glass Bead Makers At Cross Mabale - A Story of Art, Recycling & Women Empowerment. Hidden in the valley are groups of industrious women transforming “waste” into beauty. Using recycled glass, they melt, mould and shape glass beads and jewellery that is gaining recognition for them across Hwange and beyond. What makes this project special is not just the artistry, but the impact. Some of the benefits include potential income for rural women who previously had limited employment options; environmental conservation by recycling glass waste into wearable art; skills development; giving women a trade they can grow and pass on and boosting cultural tourism, as travellers increasingly seek authentic, handmade products. These glass bead makers have created a powerful example of how creativity and sustainability can uplift households and protect the environment at the same time.
Our next stop was Dave and Linda’s Nursery, a quiet sanctuary nurturing a rich variety of indigenous tree species. At a time when Hwange faces deforestation, habitat pressure, and climate challenges, the nursery is playing a vital role in ecosystem restoration. Here, visitors can learn about Indigenous tree species essential to our wildlife and water systems. Dave and Linda’s nursery doesn’t only grow trees, it grows environmental guardianship. Schools visiting the nursery gain hands-on conservation education, helping shape a generation that understands the value of protecting Hwange’s natural heritage.
We concluded our visit at the workshop where Kakori Bags are made. This women-led initiative is producing durable, eco-friendly bags stitched with care and creativity. What impressed us most is how these bags are used. Another of Linda and Dave’s project, the Kakori bags are given to visiting school children. Each school receives two Kakori bags for litter collection. This simple concept creates a powerful impact as children learn the importance of waste management.
