By Lloyd Mangoh
When international development funding is withdrawn, many grassroots initiatives in the global South falter, their stories cut short. But Yolanda Munyengwa, a young woman with a disability from Mbare — one of Zimbabwe’s oldest and most densely populated neighbourhoods — defied that narrative. Her story is not one of collapse but courage, resilience, and transformation.
Mbare is often associated with overcrowding, informal vending, and limited public services. Growing up in this environment, Yolanda saw how youth, especially those with disabilities, were frequently excluded from opportunity and dignity.
“Mbare taught me to be tough, but it also taught me to dream,” she recalls. “I saw the vending, the begging — and I knew I wanted more. Not just for myself, but for others like me.”
Her turning point came when she joined a USAID-funded youth empowerment programme for persons with disabilities. There, she learned how to make household detergents and petroleum jelly — a survival skill that soon blossomed into an entrepreneurial venture. She founded Gumdrop, a formally registered brand now supplying products to homes and small shops.
Then, in January 2025, a global stop-work order by the U.S. government abruptly suspended USAID-funded programmes in several countries, including Zimbabwe. For many beneficiaries, it was a crushing setback. But for Yolanda, it became a catalyst.
“The funding ended, but my purpose didn’t,” she says. “I had seen what I could do with support — I just needed to keep building.”
Beyond Business: Leading with Impact
Gumdrop is expanding today, but Yolanda’s impact stretches beyond entrepreneurship. She has become a trainer, a sexual and reproductive health rights (SRHR) advocate, and a passionate champion for disability inclusion. Through workshops, policy dialogues, and mentorship, she empowers other youth, both with and without disabilities, across Zimbabwe.
“Disability doesn’t mean silence or invisibility,” she affirms. “We have dreams, we have voices, and we deserve access and dignity — especially regarding our bodies and choices.”
A Call to Action
Yolanda’s story highlights the urgent need for structural change. While Zimbabwe’s National Disability Policy provides a framework, implementation remains slow. According to the World Health Organisation, persons with disabilities — especially young women in developing countries — face higher rates of unemployment, poor health, and limited access to education. In Zimbabwe, over 80% remain unemployed, often relegated to informal livelihoods such as vending or begging.
“We are tired of being seen as charity cases,” Yolanda asserts. “I’m not waiting for rescue. I’m building something lasting — and taking others with me.”
National Recognition and a Broader Vision
In recognition of her achievements, Yolanda was recently nominated for the prestigious Zimbabwe Women in Business Awards (ZWIBA). For her, the nomination is more than personal.
“This is for every girl who’s ever been told she can’t,” she says. “For the youth I mentor, for the children watching from the sidelines. It’s proof that our work matters.”
Her rise from the streets of Mbare to national acclaim is not just a personal victory — it’s a beacon of what is possible when communities invest in their own.
“Change doesn’t come from charity,” Yolanda says. “It comes from belief. From systems that work with communities, not on them.”
