Pilot Projects Living laboratories
At Collaborative for Change, we believe our pilot projects are more than just initiatives: they are living laboratories for self-sustaining micro-economies and community-driven solutions. Carefully selected through our Emerging Initiative, these projects are designed to be scalable, adaptable, and impactful, ensuring long-term resilience in diverse environments.
By integrating clean water access, regenerative agriculture, forest farming, and community infrastructure, our pilot projects lay the foundation for sustainable, locally driven economies. From improving food security to restoring degraded landscapes, these initiatives turn ideas into actionable, real-world solutions, shaping a more resilient and self-sufficient future.
Rwanda: Agroforestry for Food Security
In Rwanda, Collaborative for Change and project lead, Leonard Iyamuremye are implementing an innovative agroforestry project designed to increase food security while restoring ecosystems. By planting a mix of avocado trees and crops, we are enhancing biodiversity and providing local communities with both food and income sources. This project serves as a model for sustainable agricultural practices that can be scaled to other regions.
- - Plant 5,000 avocado trees alongside staple crops. (phase 1)
- - Train local farmers in agroforestry techniques that boost productivity and sustainability.
- - Utilize our data platform to optimize planting strategies and monitor crop health.
The project aims to increase food production, improve soil fertility, and create a sustainable source of income for local farmers, contributing to long-term food security.
(Pitch Book Available upon request)
Malawi: WE CLEAN WE GREEN
We are partnering with the local community through Pike Ng’oma of We Clean We Green, to complete the construction of a school by adding a roof, floor, and windows, transforming it into a safe and inspiring learning environment. Our Malawi Pilot Project focuses on creating long-term impact through education, sustainability, and empowerment. The program includes providing bikes for girls to ensure safe travel to school, introducing health education classes focused on hygiene and reproductive health, and building compostable toilets with private changing areas for young women. Additionally, we aim to implement an agroforestry curriculum, teaching sustainable gardening practices to promote environmental conservation and food security. This pilot project is the foundation for a brighter future in Malawi, with a focus on empowering women and girls while fostering community resilience.
Complete School Construction
Add a roof, floor, and windows to create a safe, functional, and inspiring learning environment for students.
Empower Girls with Safe Transportation
Provide bikes for girls to ensure reliable and safe travel to school, reducing barriers to education.
Introduce Health Education
Conduct classes focused on hygiene, reproductive health, and self-care to empower young women with essential knowledge.
Improve Sanitation Facilities
Build compostable toilets and private changing areas for girls to support health, hygiene, and dignity.
Implement Agroforestry Curriculum
Teach students sustainable gardening practices that promote environmental conservation and improve food security.
Foster Community Collaboration
Work with local leaders, parents, and Pike Ng’oma’s organization, We Clean We Green, to ensure the project is community-led and sustainable.
Improved Access to Education
A safe, fully equipped school will encourage higher attendance and better academic outcomes for children, especially girls.
Empowered Women and Girls
Access to bikes, health education, and private facilities will break down barriers to education and foster confidence and independence among young women.
Better Health and Sanitation
Compostable toilets and hygiene education will reduce health risks and promote dignity, particularly for girls managing menstruation.
Environmental Awareness and Food Security
The agroforestry curriculum will teach students to grow sustainable gardens, providing food for the school and community while promoting environmental conservation.
Stronger Community Resilience
By engaging the local community in the project, the initiative fosters collaboration and long-term ownership, ensuring its sustainability and success.
Zimbabwe: Burmavalley Nursery Project
Led by wildlife conservationist, nature guide, and community engagement officer Peter Magosvongwe, the Burmavalley Nursery Project is rooted in ecological restoration, environmental education, and economic self-reliance. Peter has worked for most of his adult life as a birding-focused naturalist and biodiversity advocate, using his deep knowledge of the region’s ecosystems to inspire conservation awareness, especially among youth. He currently works closely with four local schools and has broader access to a network of approximately 19 schools across the region.
Peter recently completed Earth Awareness: Restoration Principles and Practices, a 9-month course designed and facilitated by Jill Wagner, which Collaborative for Change sponsors for select Emerging Initiative leaders. In 2025, we proudly supported four project leads, including Peter, through this transformative program. He is now concurrently enrolled in Jill Wagner’s Nursery Management course, providing him with the tools to scale this initiative sustainably and effectively.
Now, Peter is launching the Burma Valley Nursery Project as both a local reforestation hub and a community-based business. The nursery will provide native seedlings for school planting projects and community restoration efforts, while generating income through tree sales to local farmers and households.
- Environmental Education: Partner with local schools to integrate tree planting and environmental science into hands-on learning experiences.
- Native Tree Propagation: Establish a nursery for growing indigenous species to supply reforestation and agroforestry projects.
- Sustainable Livelihoods: Develop an income stream through the sale of excess seedlings to the surrounding community.
- Transparent Reporting: Maintain strong accountability through quarterly progress reports in Year 1 and semi-annual reports in Years 2 and 3.
- Ongoing Capacity Building: Strengthen leadership and technical skills through continued mentorship and nursery training.
The Burmavalley Nursery Project empowers youth and strengthens community ties to the land. By integrating ecological education into school activities and increasing access to native trees, the project fosters climate resilience, food security, and biodiversity. It also supports green entrepreneurship, helping Peter build a sustainable business that benefits his wider community, one tree, one student, and one school at a time.
Join Us in Our Mission
Our pilot projects are just the beginning. By integrating innovative technology with on-the-ground action, we aim to create a global network of restoration initiatives that can reverse environmental degradation and build a sustainable future. We invite you to join us in this mission, whether by supporting our efforts, collaborating on new projects, or simply spreading the word.
