From Idea to Impact: The Emotional Rollercoaster of Starting Something New

Today, the cohort of Millennium Fellows at the University of Zimbabwe is reflecting on their Millennium Fellowship experience so far: the breakthroughs, the setbacks, the confidence, the doubt, the late nights, and the moments of pure joy. The cohort consists of 21 young changemakers, all eager to make an impact on their community and the world beyond.

“When starting something new,  you need to be willing to be transformed by what you are transforming; good impact is a mutual endeavor. We persist with patience, kindness, empathy, and honor, making ripples. Unified and amplified by our newfound community, we will make waves”

- Millennium Fellows of class of 2025 from the University of Zimbabwe

Photo of the Millennium Fellows of class ‘25 at the University of Zimbabwe

The Shared "Why"

Even though the majority of fellows work on individual projects, they are all united by their collective heart for humanity. Each project is people-centered and the group found out that they all have a shared goal, as one of the fellows, Panashe put it: “to improve the lives of those around us using the resources available, no matter how minimal they may be”. The cohort is full of can-do spirit, go-getters, visionaries and optimists, who acknowledge that most problems in society are faced by groups of people (such as children, women, students, etc). Through conducting training sessions on their campus and coming together as a cohort, students at the University of Zimbabwe that they collectively share a deep desire to serve. 

The Unexpected Emotions

Makanaka, the Campus Director, revealed that their shared desire to help “has opened up a Pandora’s box of new complex  emotions”. Many of the fellows discovered that they began to doubt how helpful they can be as individuals. Another fellow, Shelton, mentioned that the highlight of the huge scope of problems engulfing their society has made them ponder on the question - “is what’s being done going to have any impact?” Suddenly, the group felt sadness, doubt, and guilt of not doing enough creep in. Ntandoyenkosi expressed that “every second started to feel like a wasted moment”. Following these complex emotions came a discomfort of not knowing. One more fellow, Tadiwa, found out that she was saying “I don't know yet” or “I'm still figuring it out” much more than she expected. Through going on such an emotional rollercoaster, the cohort began to pursue the subtle art of the wait and the quiet resilience of knowledge. Through shared vulnerability, they created a community and followed a rather  simple motto - "a problem shared is a problem half solved”.

The "We Didn't See That Coming" Moment

After all the emotional discoveries, the cohort was struck by the reality of things. Soon enough, they faced a challenge: “What we wanted to do was new, but the systems we were working with had long been established; to make it all even more comical - we were new to the system!” The group received cold “nos” or even any lack of acknowledgement. As a result, all of the Millennium Fellows recognised their own dependency on other people, especially those in authoritative positions. Shelton added that “when you start, you believe that you will be able to do almost everything you need pretty much alone, but then you discover that you need help with 1, 2, 3, 4, 5... and you realize that you're not enough (and not in a bad way)”. On the other hand, Todiwa at first thought that “it would be easy to just build something and have people use it” but came to a realization that “without a strong network and support system, even the best ideas can fall flat”. The fellows learned that social change requires patience and persistence. Despite the rejections, the silence, and the betrayals, the team carried on and finally received the well-deserved recognition.

Our Highest Highs

They were invited to present their projects to the university’s higher-ups and to collaborate directly with their school’s administration. Makanaka proudly explained that “sitting around a table with the Dean of Students and the University’s Director of International Affairs, Marketing, and Relations - what we felt was the gravity of our projects, it was knowing that, despite the resistance, impact was possible”. There were highest highs not only on a collective, but also individual levels. For Tadiwa, one of the highest highs was “when I presented my project at a conference and received applause and recognition from climate action experts; it was a moment of validation for all the hard work and dedication I put into the project - seeing the impact it had on the audience and receiving positive feedback was incredibly fulfilling”. For Divine, one of the most significant moments was “when I successfully tracked down the background of a vulnerable child who had been living on the streets for years”. After long days of research and conversations with the community, she located the child’s mother and provided both of them with a safer environment. 

Beyond the Project

Somewhere between helplessness and hope, failures and victories, analysis and action, the cohort of Millennium Fellows at the University of Zimbabwe grew into the shoes befitting their impact. Ebbi pointed out that the Millennium Fellowship journey “taught me resilience and empathy”. Moreover, she grasped that starting something new is not only about results - “it is about listening, understanding, and adapting to others”. For Tafara now, social impact is a never-ending and flowing process: “It's sometimes difficult to admit that there was work at the start of it all and there will be work at the continuation of it all”. Shelton saw another perspective: "A belief in being able to effect change even with limited resources, because you are the resource”. 

The Cohort's Legacy

When looking back at the entire experience of the Millennium Fellowship, the cohort gets thrilled about the prospective future. Makanaka believes that “soft impact ripples through from the cohort to our peers through shared wisdom gained from the sessions”. While Divide hopes that the team’s work leaves a mark not only through events organized, but also “in the culture of commitment, courage, and care cultivated in each other”. She believes that in years from now, every fellow “will carry an imprint of the cohort in themselves”. Tadiwa added that the cohort could “become a symbol of what it means to truly support, hear, and see each other”. 

---

Article written by: Millennium Fellows Class of 2025, University of Zimbabwe