Matabeleland, one of Zimbabwe’s most climate-affected regions, continues to face mounting challenges from prolonged droughts and chronic water shortages to food insecurity and erratic power supply. These climate issues disproportionately affect women, youth, and smallholder farmers who already contend with social and economic inequalities. Yet amid these challenges, countless stories of resilience, innovation, and local adaptation remain untold.
“Climate Change Unpacked: Storytelling for a Sustainable Matabeleland project is a media and advocacy campaign by Matabeleland Pulse, dedicated to changing that narrative. The initiative seeks to empower local voices, strengthen community awareness, and inspire collective climate action in Bulawayo, Matebeleland North and South, and beyond through the power of storytelling.
At its core, the project aims to make climate change conversations more relatable, evidence-based, and inclusive. Many communities understand the effects of climate change but lack access to clear, localized information that connects science to their daily lives. This campaign bridges that gap by combining journalism, community dialogue, and digital advocacy to unpack the complexities of climate change in practical, human-centered ways.
Through creative multimedia storytelling, “Climate Change Unpacked: Storytelling for a Sustainable Matebeleland,” will highlight how individuals, families, and communities across Matabeleland are responding to environmental challenges from water scarcity and deforestation to sustainable farming and climate-smart practices. The campaign will also open up dialogue spaces for communities, policymakers, and civic actors to exchange ideas and co-create local solutions.
As part of the campaign, Matabeleland Pulse will roll out a series of public education materials designed to challenge misconceptions and encourage proactive engagement on climate issues. These resources will be freely available for individuals, schools, and community groups to download and share on this link.
Current campaign posters look at
1. Myth vs Truth Posters clearing up common misconceptions about climate change with fact-based explanations that connect global science to local realities in Matabeleland.
2. Be the Solution, Not Pollution Series a practical visual guide promoting everyday actions individuals and families can take to reduce environmental harm and live more sustainably.
3. 30 Days, 30 Actions for Climate Action a month-long challenge encouraging simple, impactful steps toward a greener lifestyle from tree planting, energy efficiency, and waste sorting to water conservation and community engagement.
These resources are designed to educate, inspire, and mobilize action, turning awareness into impact across homes, schools, workplaces, and local communities.
Climate Change Unpacked is more than a campaign it is a platform for Matabeleland’s people to shape their own climate story. By combining storytelling, data, and community engagement, the project aims to amplify local solutions, foster informed dialogue, and promote gender-responsive approaches to climate resilience.
Through continued collaboration with journalists, civic organizations, and residents, the campaign envisions a future where every voice contributes to sustainable development, and every story fuels collective action.
This initiative is supported by Atlas Corps in collaboration with American India Foundation, whose commitment to global leadership and community-driven innovation continues to empower change makers across the world. Their support underscores the importance of storytelling as a catalyst for awareness, accountability, and sustainable development in climate-vulnerable regions.
Get Involved
You can be part of this movement.
Explore our stories on the website, join our conversations, download our campaign posters and guides to share with your friends, family, colleagues, and community networks. Follow our social media platforms on Twitter @matpulsezw,on Facebook: Matebeleland Pulse 1 and LinkedIn Matebeleland Pulse.
