In June 2021, the Taldeya Foundation was established: Talent Development Young Africa. Taldeya’s general goals are to: reduce poverty, develop young people’s personal strengths, talents, and professional skills, support in creating a living and strengthen communities.
We focus on Sustainable Development Goals 1, 2 and 3.

In February 2024, the founder and driving force behind Taldeya, Margriet Schut, sadly passed away. Despite this huge loss, we want to continue her life’s work.

In 2023 Taldeya started to focus on a project in Zimbabwe for young entrepreneurship: ‘Youth-led Change’. The project takes place in Chitungwiza Urban, about 40 km from Harare City.

Taldeya will partner with ‘The Work Under The Tree Trust’ in Zimbabwe and with ‘Yesfoundersfoundation’ Germany, Thomas Jakel. We will build upon their common experiences with Youth-led change making and Yes-challenges gained in recent years. This model is based on the philosophy of Ali Raza Khan, a social entrepreneur who has stimulated many young people all over the world to use their power and creativity and become leaders.

The goals we formulated with our partner organization in Zimbabwe ‘Work Under The Tree Trust’ for ‘Youth-led Change’ are:

• Supporting young people in reaching their full potential in nurturing talents and positive self-esteem.
• Establishing a correlation between positive attitude and employment creation
• Capacitating young people with relevant experience in business skills and entrepreneurship
• Eradicating poverty through creating financial independence in young adults
• Educating young adults on drug and substance abuse and its negative effects and encourage them to make healthy choices.

Youth Led Change Making – Yes Challenge
‘Young people get a few dollars to start a project, build an income and learn that they can change their world.’

Young people participate in teams in a Yes Challenge in which they are challenged to use a small starting amount ($25) to undertake a project and make a profit within three weeks. Each team receives personal coaching, guidance and support in developing and implementing their idea. The starting amount is risk-free for them. If they make a profit, they repay the “Trust-Based Investment” (TBI) and move on to level 2. Here, the TBI is £50 and they have four weeks. After that, there is a level 3. In level 3, the TBI is £100. This level must be completed in six weeks. Each team learns from experience. If there is no profit, the debt is waived. Most teams repay everything. All teams start their own small business, such as the Brick Boys who make bricks.

The first Challenge started in early 2023 with 10 teams. In 2024 and the first half of 2025, three more Challenges were organised, now with 15 teams per Challenge. In total, 55 teams or 165 young people participated. Their businesses collectively achieved a turnover of $54,532 and a profit of $18,389. A total of 31,144 customers were served. Three new Challenges are currently being prepared.

An alumni programme has been launched in which former participants are asked to support new participants. This support can be emotional or financial. Some alumni and partners from the growing business network also contribute financially to The Work Under The Tree Trust. In this way, the organisation is becoming increasingly self-sufficient.

>> A blog of a recent Yes Challenge <<

Results of Youth Led Change

Small business tailor-made clothes
One team started sewing clothes from beautiful fabrics. The teamleader Meza used her sewing skills.The clothes were in high demand.

In Level 3, this woman was able to rent a workshop and buy a second sewing machine. The number of customers grew rapidly and with this her income. She has established a successful small business now. 

Started a shop
One group had nothing to start from and when they got the Trust based investment , they started to buy little bottles of perfumes selling door to door and later on during the challenge as they reached level 3 ,they had established a small corner in the market , where they are now still selling big bottles of perfumes , the group leader Shanty is now the storekeeper of the shop.

Small business on line 
Team leader Ropafadzo started buying and selling clothing and accessories and along the way she then started a social media platform where she sells her clothing range on social media like Whatsapp and Facebook. She sends it to her customers. The group has a wide range of customers all-over the country now.

Rapport ‘Outcome harvest of project Home to Home Kenya (okt 2022)’