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.
While there, we didn’t just observe. We got our hands dirty and planted Chaya trees alongside schoolchildren, trained them, and saw results in real time. That’s when the impact moves from idea to reality.
The women running the Chaya Processing Center showed us what leadership looks like. They turn leaves into products, making the project sustainable. They prove that local ownership drives real, lasting change.
Our group also met with Tanganda Tea Company, one of the largest tea producers in the world. Conversations sparked new partnerships and possibilities for scaling this work even further.
And then there’s Zimbabwe itself. Evenings drifting along the Zambezi at sunset, elephants silhouetted on the shore. Victoria Falls thundering, humbling in seconds. Early mornings on safari at Mana Pools, watching zebras stir in golden light and hippos breaking the surface. Moments like these remind you what’s at stake: the land, the wildlife, and most of all, the people.
This isn’t traditional charity. It’s sustainable change built to last. Zimbabwe is just the start. The model we’re creating can be replicated across the continent.
Next June, I’ll return with another group. If you want to see Africa not just as a visitor but as someone who helps make transformation happen, join us. It will change how you see the world, and perhaps how you see yourself.
