Samkele Park
Play is a human need, not a luxury, and in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, one small skate club lit the spark for something much bigger. In this short video, you’ll meet Robbie Kimmel, a recent University of Colorado Boulder grad who skipped the corporate path and instead started showing up daily for local kids with a few skateboards outside his apartment. What began as 60 kids lining up on a one-way street turns into a bold, community-built answer to a simple question: where can kids safely play when there is no public playground?
That question becomes Samkele Park — a welcoming space designed for everyone, with a playground, Zimbabwe’s first skate park, an outdoor workout gym, and a walking loop for skating, biking, and running. You’ll see bricks delivered, crossings painted for safety, government approvals stamped, and an international volunteer team helping bring it to life, right through to a grand opening filled with music, first-time skaters, and a community claiming its legacy. If you want something hopeful, real, and contagious, WATCH THIS VIDEO!
The Chaya Project
This post written by Sandi Young, MATTER Chaya Champion.
This past June, I took a group of friends to Zimbabwe. It was adventure, yes, but it was also about impact. Seeing, doing, and shaping change.
We went to experience the country’s landscapes and wildlife. But mostly, we went to see a project that has captured my heart: the Chaya Tree Project.
Five years ago, I partnered with MATTER to tackle a simple but massive challenge: malnutrition.Could we make a real dent in it? Not in decades, but in our lifetime. We focused on a plant called Chaya. High in protein, packed with vitamins, thriving in harsh climates. Small leaves, big mission. Now, Chaya is already feeding families and creating opportunities for women across Zimbabwe.
Continue reading Sandi’s story HERE…
MATTERbox
As 2025 comes to a close, the message is one of heartfelt gratitude for everyone who showed up with hope, care, and support, proving that kindness is more than a belief; it’s a real force for good. Thanks to that generosity, MATTERbox delivered not only meals but a clear message of dignity and worth—“you matter”—reaching communities in nearly all 50 states.
We appreciate our partnership with Treasure Island Resort and Casino, who provided us an opportunity to be part of their Island Impact Giving Tree initiative (pictured above). And, a shout-out to staff from C. H. Robinson (pictured below) who helped us close out the year by packing 540 MATTERbox Snack Packs and 40 HOPE Kits!
Looking ahead to 2026, MATTERbox is planning to grow significantly by expanding reach, scaling impact, and deepening its focus on helping companies engage employees in meaningful community service through team-building volunteer events.
Learn more about MATTERbox Employee Engagement events HERE!
Education
This year has been a meaningful one for our MIH/MCRI community—full of growth, learning, and exciting milestones! This year we welcomed four new partner schools, bringing us to 12 partner schools in total. We also launched a new scholarship to support girls in STEM and were proud to support two girls at Mosi this year.
Throughout the year we invested heavily in the people and experiences that bring the program to life. In July, we gathered facilitators to share successes and challenges, with the goal of strengthening implementation of the TEAL+ model, with a focus on engagement, teacher tools, and strong essential questions. August was especially active: we hosted a Girls Code Camp for 22 students from Mosi, Mkhosana, and Grace Missions and a Music Camp at Victoria Falls Primary for 20 Mosi High students. We also brought together 13 headmasters from partner schools to deepen leadership understanding and strengthen program ownership.
In the final stretch of the year, we welcomed teachers from Lebanon and Uganda for TEAL+ training at MCRI, and held open houses at Mosi, Mkhosana, Nechilibi, and King George VI—well attended by school leaders, parents, and alumni whose stories encouraged current learners.
We closed the year with a major step forward: the December groundbreaking for MCRI Phase 2, alongside continued progress outfitting TEAL stations at all four new partner schools. There are now 21 MCRI graduates employed by four organizations!
Thank you for your ongoing support of MATTER Education initiatives.
Loan Program
Our first cohort recently completed their Sinapis business entrepreneur training course!
One participant, Linda, who runs a pharmacy in Victoria Falls, commented, “This was probably the highlight of the year for me. The opportunity to be part of this amazing training is greatly appreciated.”
Our goal is to train 500 entrepreneurs in business skills over the next five years and invest in successful entrepreneurs with our newly launched Basa investment fund!