EVOKE · HARARE · FROM 2 NOV 2026
The loop starts with you.
Your team spends eight weeks turning waste into value in Harare.
You join a team, pick a real waste problem in your community and build a circular solution that you test with the people it affects. In December your team presents it to a panel of judges.
Ages 18 to 35, in Harare. Free. No experience needed.
- 8WEEKS
- 18 to 35AGES
- 50PLACES
- USD 1,150IN PRIZES FOR THE TOP 3 TEAMS
WITH
THE CHALLENGE
Young people in Harare build circular solutions that turn waste into value.
In September, teams at Impact Hub Harare wrote One Man's Trash, the story that won the Creative Challenge. The eight weeks start from that story: your team picks a real waste problem in your community and works out how to keep materials and their value in circulation.
You talk to the people who live with the problem, build a prototype, test it with them and improve it. Your solution has to work for livelihoods, for inclusion and for the environment.
You do not need to know anything about circular economy to apply. Mentors guide your team through it.
IS IT FOR YOU?
The challenge is for 18 to 35-year-olds who can meet at Impact Hub Harare on four Mondays.
- Who
- Ages 18 to 35Students, recent graduates and young people who work or are looking for work, from any field.
- How
- In teams, with mentors12 missions, about 12 hours a week. Free, and no experience needed.
- When
- From 2 NovFour Monday sessions in person and three online check-ins.
- Where
- Impact Hub HarareIn-person sessions in Harare. Missions on your phone between sessions.
Ages 18 to 35, in Harare. Free. No experience needed.
THE 12 MISSIONS
Your team completes 12 missions in four phases.
Your team completes three missions every two weeks on the Evoke Hub, and mentors review the work as it comes in.
01 · Missions 1 to 3
Explore
You go into the community, interview the people affected and map the problem.
02 · Missions 4 to 6
Imagine
You analyse what you found, come up with ideas and design the prototype.
03 · Missions 7 to 9
Act
You build the prototype, test it with the community and improve it.
04 · Missions 10 to 12
Communicate
You put the solution together and pitch it at the Final Showcase.
The last mission is your complete solution, tested with the community and ready to present.
THE CALENDAR
Your team meets on four Mondays at Impact Hub Harare and joins three online check-ins.
Between sessions your team works on its own schedule, about 12 hours a week, on interviews, missions and the prototype.
- Mon 2 November2:00 to 5:00 PMIn personFirst session: the challenge and the teams
All times are Harare time. Impact Hub Harare confirms the dates of the other sessions and of the Final Showcase with the selected participants.
Ages 18 to 35, in Harare. Free. No experience needed.
WHAT YOU GET
Your team finishes with a solution tested in the community and a business case to fund it.
- YOU BUILD
- A circular solution tested with the community, with a challenge statement, evidence from the people you interviewed, a budget and a business case.
- YOU PRESENT
- A pitch and a demo of your prototype at the Final Showcase in December, in front of a panel of judges.
- YOU GET
- A mentor for your team, the Impact Hub Harare space and Wi-Fi, Adobe access, AI and cloud credits, a T-shirt and materials for the work.
- AND MORE
- The top three teams win USD 500, 400 and 250. Participants who complete the missions and the Final Showcase receive an Evoke certificate.
Each team needs people with different skills.
Students, recent graduates and young people who work or are looking for work, from any field, aged 18 to 35. You need to be in Harare for the four Monday sessions and ready to commit to the eight weeks.
WHO'S BEEN THERE
In September, young people in Harare spent three days creating with Evoke.
Impact Hub Harare hosted the Creative Challenge. That same weekend, young people in Bogotá, São Paulo and Boulder ran their own challenges.
“The process of collaboration was amazing. Also our mentors are real life superheroes so that was also exhilarating.”
Participant
Creative Challenge · Harare · Sep 2026
“It's a place where great imagination is projected into something tangible and thoughts are given a voice.”
Participant
Creative Challenge · Harare · Sep 2026
“Creating something unique with talented peers.”
Participant
Creative Challenge · Boulder · Sep 2026
ABOUT EVOKE · WHO'S BEHIND IT
Evoke connects young people, mentors and organizations to build solutions to real problems.
The World Bank created Evoke in 2010 as a learning experience built on stories, games and team missions. Today Evoke is an independent nonprofit and has run campaigns in more than ten countries.
Evoke’s methodology, the Social Innovators’ Framework, organizes creativity, collaboration, critical thinking and the ability to act into four powers. In every mission, your team works on all four in a project for your own community.
- 2010Born at the World Bank
- 15+Years of impact
- 10+Countries
The four powers
Creative Visionary
See what others don't
Develop the ability to envision new possibilities and create innovative solutions that haven't been tried before.
- Vision
- Creativity
- Imagination
Deep Collaborator
Stronger together
Master the art of working with diverse teams, building networks and communicating ideas that inspire action.
- Teamwork
- Networking
- Communication
System Thinker
See the big picture
Learn to understand complex systems, identify root causes and develop solutions that address the whole problem.
- Analysis
- Problem solving
- Critical reflection
Empathetic Activist
Lead with heart
Build the emotional intelligence to understand others' needs and the courage to take action for positive change.
- Empathy
- Courage
- Leadership
Where Evoke has been
'%20transform='translate(67.4)scale(.93748)'%3e%3cg%20fill-rule='evenodd'%20stroke-width='1pt'%3e%3cpath%20fill='%23000001'%20d='M-71.9%20407.8V104.4L154%20256.1z'/%3e%3cpath%20fill='%23000c8a'%20d='m82.2%20512.1%20253.6-170.6H696V512H82.2z'/%3e%3cpath%20fill='%23e1392d'%20d='M66%200h630v170.8H335.7S69.3-1.7%2066%200'/%3e%3cpath%20fill='%23ffb915'%20d='M-71.9%2064v40.4L154%20256-72%20407.8v40.3l284.5-192z'/%3e%3cpath%20fill='%23007847'%20d='M-71.9%2064V0h95l301.2%20204h371.8v104.2H324.3L23%20512h-94.9v-63.9l284.4-192L-71.8%2064z'/%3e%3cpath%20fill='%23fff'%20d='M23%200h59.2l253.6%20170.7H696V204H324.3zm0%20512.1h59.2l253.6-170.6H696v-33.2H324.3L23%20512z'/%3e%3c/g%3e%3c/g%3e%3c/svg%3e)
South Africa2010
Brazil2012
Mexico2014
Colombia2014, 2016, 2020scale(26.66665)'%3e%3cg%20id='hn-b'%3e%3cpath%20id='hn-a'%20d='m-.3%200%20.5.1L0-1z'/%3e%3cuse%20xlink:href='%23hn-a'%20width='100%25'%20height='100%25'%20transform='scale(-1%201)'/%3e%3c/g%3e%3cuse%20xlink:href='%23hn-b'%20width='100%25'%20height='100%25'%20transform='rotate(72)'/%3e%3cuse%20xlink:href='%23hn-b'%20width='100%25'%20height='100%25'%20transform='rotate(-72)'/%3e%3cuse%20xlink:href='%23hn-b'%20width='100%25'%20height='100%25'%20transform='rotate(144)'/%3e%3cuse%20xlink:href='%23hn-b'%20width='100%25'%20height='100%25'%20transform='rotate(-144)'/%3e%3c/g%3e%3cuse%20xlink:href='%23hn-c'%20width='100%25'%20height='100%25'%20transform='translate(133.3%20-42.7)'/%3e%3cuse%20xlink:href='%23hn-c'%20width='100%25'%20height='100%25'%20transform='translate(133.3%2037.3)'/%3e%3cuse%20xlink:href='%23hn-c'%20width='100%25'%20height='100%25'%20transform='translate(-133.3%20-42.7)'/%3e%3cuse%20xlink:href='%23hn-c'%20width='100%25'%20height='100%25'%20transform='translate(-133.3%2037.3)'/%3e%3c/svg%3e)
Honduras2019
Guatemala2019'%20transform='scale(.9375)'%3e%3cpath%20fill='%23009a00'%20fill-rule='evenodd'%20d='M0%200h768v160H0z'/%3e%3cpath%20fill='%23fff'%20fill-rule='evenodd'%20d='M0%20160h768v16H0z'/%3e%3cpath%20fill='%23000001'%20fill-rule='evenodd'%20d='M0%20176h768v160H0z'/%3e%3cpath%20fill='%23fff'%20fill-rule='evenodd'%20d='M0%20336h768v16H0z'/%3e%3cpath%20fill='%23ffca00'%20fill-rule='evenodd'%20d='M0%20352h768v160H0z'/%3e%3cpath%20fill='red'%20fill-rule='evenodd'%20d='M0%200v512l336-256z'/%3e%3cpath%20fill='%23ffca00'%20fill-rule='evenodd'%20d='m198.5%20333-51.2-37.5L96.1%20333l19.9-60.3-51.5-37.1%2063.5.2%2019.3-60.4%2019.4%2060.5%2063.5-.3-51.5%2037.1z'/%3e%3cpath%20fill='%23fff'%20fill-rule='evenodd'%20stroke='%23000'%20stroke-linecap='round'%20stroke-linejoin='round'%20stroke-width='1.1'%20d='M102.8%20290.9h37c3%203.3%209.5%204.7%2015.8%200%2011.6-6.4%2034%200%2034%200l4.4-4.7-10.7-35.2-3.9-4.2s-8.3-5-24-3.3-21.2-.5-21.2-.5-13.7%201.6-17.6%203.6l-4.4%204.4z'/%3e%3cpath%20fill='none'%20stroke='%23000'%20stroke-linecap='round'%20stroke-linejoin='round'%20stroke-width='1.1'%20d='M110.3%20281.8s35.2-4.4%2045.4%209.1c-5.7%204-10.8%204.3-16.2.3.8-1.5%2012.6-13.8%2042.7-9.7'/%3e%3cpath%20fill='none'%20stroke='%23000'%20stroke-width='1.2'%20d='m148%20246.6-.3%2038.8m31.7-38.3L186%20278'/%3e%3cpath%20fill='none'%20stroke='%23000'%20stroke-linecap='round'%20stroke-linejoin='round'%20stroke-width='1.1'%20d='m117%20246.6-3.7%2016'/%3e%3cpath%20fill-rule='evenodd'%20stroke='%23000'%20stroke-linecap='round'%20stroke-linejoin='round'%20stroke-width='1.1'%20d='m78.9%20295.1%208.6%2010.2q1.5.9%202.9%200l12.8-15.4%205.4-6.7q1.3-1.6%201-3l10.4-9.3%202.2.2c-1-.2-1.7-.7-1-1.8l2.4-1.8%201.8%202.3s-2.6%203.4-2.9%203.4h-2.8l-5.4%204.9%202.4%202%203.5%209.8%204.4-3.1-2.8-10%206.1-6.7-2.3-3.6%201.6-2s21.3%2013.4%2029.6%209.8c.2%200%20.5-9.6.5-9.6s-22.2-2.3-22.7-6.7%205-5%205-5l-2.4-3.2.5-1.8%203.9%204.8%208.7-7.4%2051.5%2058.6c2.8-1.1%203.4-1.8%203.6-4.6L155%20241.5l3.8-4.1c.8-.9%201-1.2%201-2.6l6-5.1a7%207%200%200%201%203.8%203L186%20219c.4.4%201.7.8%202.6.4l26.9-25.9-29.3%2020.7-1-.7c0-.9%201-1%200-2.6-1.2-1.4-2.9%201.3-3.1%201.3s-4.3-1.4-5.2-3.2l-.2%204.7-7.5%207-5.7-.3-8.2%208-1%203%201.3%202.7s-4.4%203.8-4.4%203.6c0-.3-.9-1.2-1-1.3l3.8-3.4.5-2.3-1.2-2c-.4.3-5.2%205.4-5.5%204.8l-14-15.5.8-2.9-8.7-9.5c-3.2-1.1-8.3-1.3-9.3%205.7-.8%201.6-7.4.2-7.4.2l-3.6.8L85.2%20241l11.3%2013.6%2023.2-29.3.7-8.3%204.8%205.4q2.5.5%204.7-.5l13.7%2015.3-2.3%202.3%202%202.2%202.4-1.6.9%201.3-3.1%202.1c-1.8-1.2-3.6-2.7-3.5-5l-7.7%206.4-.3%201.2-22.9%2019-2%20.3-.5%206%2014.9-12.4v-1.8l1.5%201.3%2011.6-9.3s.8%201%20.5%201-10.3%209.3-10.3%209.3l-.2%201-1.8%201.6-1-.8-14%2012.4h-2l-7.7%207.7c-2%20.2-3.7.4-5.4%201.5z'/%3e%3c/g%3e%3c/svg%3e)
Mozambique2025, 2026
Nigeria2025
Zimbabwe2025'%20d='m0%200%2016%2011h61%2061%2061%2061%2060L47%2037h61%2061%2060%2061L16%2063h61%2061%2061%2061%2060L47%2089h61%2061%2060%2061L16%20115h61%2061%2061%2061%2060L47%20141h61%2061%2060%2061L16%20166h61%2061%2061%2061%2060L47%20192h61%2061%2060%2061L16%20218h61%2061%2061%2061%2060z'/%3e%3c/svg%3e)
United States2026
RUNNING AT THE SAME TIME · 2026
Teams in four countries run Evoke challenges at the same time.
Evoke uses the same method in Brazil, Colombia, the United States and Zimbabwe, and each place works on its own challenge.
You build in Harare while teams in São Paulo, Algarrobo and Denver build solutions for their own communities.
Where it is happening
- 01BrazilLar Sírio, São Paulo
- 02ColombiaAlgarrobo, Magdalena
- 03United StatesYoung Americans Center, Denver
- 04ZimbabweImpact Hub HarareHere
QUESTIONS
About the eight weeks.
Who can apply?
Anyone aged 18 to 35 who lives in Harare or can get to Impact Hub Harare for the in-person sessions. University and college students, recent graduates and young people who work or are looking for work, from any field.
How much time does it take?
Four in-person sessions on Mondays at Impact Hub Harare and three online check-ins, plus about 12 hours a week of team work between sessions. The calendar above shows the first session, and Impact Hub Harare confirms the other dates with the selected participants. Between sessions, Impact Hub Harare also opens its space on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays for teams that want to work there.
How does the selection work?
Impact Hub Harare reads every application and builds a group of up to 50 people with different fields, backgrounds and skills. Applications close at 12:00 noon on Monday 2 November, and Impact Hub Harare emails selected applicants before the first session at 2:00 PM that day.
Can I apply with friends?
Yes. Each person applies with their own form. When the teams form, you can choose to work with friends who are also in the challenge.
Do I need experience with circular economy?
No. Mentors guide each team through the missions, and the first phase is about learning the problem from the people who live with it.
What do I need to take part?
A phone with internet for the missions between sessions, and time for the Monday sessions. Impact Hub Harare provides the space, the Wi-Fi and materials for the in-person work.
Are food and transport covered?
Impact Hub Harare serves coffee and refreshments at every in-person session. Meals and transport to the sessions are not covered.
What do the winners get?
The top three teams win USD 500, 400 and 250. Every participant who completes the missions and takes part in the Final Showcase receives an Evoke certificate.
APPLY
Apply by 2 November.
It takes about five minutes. Each person applies with their own form.
We have your application.
A confirmation is on its way to your email, with your personal link. Impact Hub Harare will email you the result before the first session, at 2:00 PM on Monday 2 November.
BRING SOMEONE WITH YOU
Teams work better with people who do different things. Send your link to someone whose work looks nothing like yours.
TEXT FOR WHATSAPP
The text and your personal link go together.
The loop starts with you. I just applied to the Evoke Global Impact Challenge in Harare: eight weeks, in teams, turning a real waste problem into a circular solution. The top three teams win USD 500, 400 and 250. Ages 18 to 35. Free. Applications close 2 November.
YOUR PERSONAL LINK
harare.evokenet.org/
Whoever applies through this link shows up in the selection as invited by you.
On a phone, Share opens WhatsApp, Instagram and everything else you have. On a computer, download the image and post it from your phone.
I'M GOING FOR IT
Tell your network that you are going for the challenge.
Post on LinkedIn, Instagram or WhatsApp that you are going for the Evoke Global Impact Challenge and invite your friends to apply too.
I'm going for the Evoke Global Impact Challenge at Impact Hub Harare: eight weeks, in a team, turning waste into value. Ages 18 to 35, free. Who's in? https://harare.evokenet.org
