On 28 November 2025, young agroecology practitioners, farmers, researchers, and partners came together in Chihondo Village, NALA, for the YPARD Tanzania RAENS Café, held at Tony Agrifarm. The one-day, in-person event created a powerful space for youth to speak, listen, learn, and connect -all around one central theme: documenting youth voices in agroecology and capturing stories of transformation.
Organized by Young Professionals for Agricultural Development Tanzania under the Research for Agroecology Network Southern Africa (RAENS) initiative, the Café brought together 51 participants, including youth, farmers, experts, and institutional stakeholders. Discussions were held in both Swahili and English, ensuring inclusive and meaningful participation.
The Café focused on giving young people the tools and confidence to share their agroecology journeys - their successes, challenges, and innovations. Participants spoke openly about their experiences applying sustainable agricultural practices and navigating real-world barriers, from access to resources to climate pressures.
One of the most impactful moments of the day was the identification and selection of 10 outstanding youth-led agroecology initiatives. These initiatives were chosen to be documented through multimedia storytelling, amplifying youth perspectives and ensuring their experiences contribute to broader agroecology learning and advocacy.
To support this, participants took part in a story telling workshop, where they built practical skills on how to document and communicate their work in compelling ways.
Beyond storytelling, the Café created strong networking opportunities. Youth interacted with government leaders, universities, farmer field schools, and organisations such as ECHO East Africa and youth food system alliances. These exchanges strengthened partnerships and opened doors for future collaboration, mentorship, and engagement.
Despite some challenges - including limited access to digital tools for some participants and transport constraints - the atmosphere remained energetic and hopeful. Many participants shared that the Café increased their understanding of agroecology and reinforced the importance of youth leadership in shaping sustainable food systems.
Local and indigenous knowledge featured strongly throughout the day. Youth from Chihondo Village shared practices such as cultivating drought-resistant indigenous crops like sorghum and millet, intercropping systems that improve soil health, natural pest management using neem and garlic, and traditional rainwater harvesting methods. These exchanges highlighted how agroecology is deeply rooted in local experience and innovation.
The YPARD Tanzania RAENS Café marked an important step inbuilding a Youth Community of Practice on Agroecology, with 50 youth identified as part of this growing network. The stories, lessons, and recommendations gathered during the Café will feed into RAENS knowledge products, blogs, and multimedia outputs - ensuring youth voices continue to reach wider audiences.
More than just an event, the YPARD RAENS Café at Tony Agrifarm was a reminder that when young people are given space, trust, and support, they become powerful drivers of agroecological transformation.
