Zimbabwe - Business creation project

Describe your project or startup in a few words

TRCW: Therapeutic Recreational Wellness is expressing ourselves through artsy activities as holistic approach to self-care, fostering emotional growth through mindfulness and meditation based exercises unique to a specific group or individual.

01.01 Describe your project in more detail

We all have a natural drive to create, it’s a tangible expression of our emotions, feelings and thoughts. Most individuals often don’t possess the language skills they need to communicate effectively, so expressing themselves through creative arts in a therapeutic setting of whether music, dancing, drawing or other forms is natural. It gives voice to their feelings. It also has been proven to facilitate healing and recovery. And with this in mind, I am in the process of developing a special colouring book which works as a personal self-care toolkit that also features journaling sheets for data collection to measure the effectiveness that it has in regards to alleviating mild to moderate symptoms of anxiety and depression. It comes as a set with all colouring materials all fitting into a portable case which makes it easier to move around with.

01.02 What is the main problem you are trying to solve?

Poor mental wellness is commonly triggered by stress and anxiety. 264 million people suffer from depression alone globally. This is mostly because of poverty and this is also causing poverty – A person may succumb to symptoms of severe mental illness because of poverty, and keeping that in mind, symptoms of severe mental illness may cause a person to fall from a standard living into poverty. This meaning that being able to pay for treatment becomes a problem because it generally takes a lot of money to get professional help and prescribed medication. Poor mental health is life threatening it can cause falling into a socio-economic crisis or loss of confidence & self-esteem which may lead to feelings of unworthiness and eventually taking one’s own life. Everyone’s mental health and well-being is a significant component of our existence and this gap is now bridged by interventions ongoing around the world, TRCW is a new solution. A free and accessible intervention.

01.03 Tell us the major benefits and/or advantages of using the product/service that your project intends to provide (at least 3).

It's good for those who find it hard to express themselves with words. Art is fun and it awakens our inner child. Mindfulness and emotional growth.

01.04 Please describe who exactly your project is aimed at serving. Who are the targeted beneficiaries?

It's great for anyone who is willing to invest in personal development, mindfulness and a relaxing artsy therapeutic experience. Since the model is adaptive, a TRCW exercise or colouring book can be uniquely designed to suit any individual or group.

01.05 When did you start working on your project?

2020-12-20

01.06 How many other partners are associated with your business venture?

5

01.07 Among the other partners, how many are female?

3

01.08 Please describe the profile of each of the other partners (skills, experience, etc.)

Thokozani: (My mother) Sales executive and gemologist. CEO of Shaboni Holdings. Grew up in Birmingham and is now doing business in Harare, Zimbabwe. Karabo: Young and innovative entrepreneur. Currently enrolled at Eden University medical school. Experienced social media marketer and owner of Bargains Gal Boutique. Samantha: Currently based in the United States and is the programs coordinator for Terera Zimbabwe, which is an NGO specialising in mental health awareness.

01.09 If you have a website, a social media page (Facebook, Instagram, Linkedin…), or app, please provide the link here:

https://www.instagram.com/andre.jesse_hararezw?igsh=MWZ5N3g0cHIwbjZjYw==

01.10 Which industry best describes your project?

f) Healthcare (healthcare equipment and services)

02.01.01 My project contributes to the No poverty goal

5

02.01.02 No poverty - Justification

Creates employment: the model of my project includes recruiting & training nonspecialists from local communities to be delivering agents of this intervention. This means that they will have access to a stipend which can be viewed as a form of income which can help elevate them out of poverty.

02.02.01 My project contributes to the Zero hunger goal

3

02.02.02 Zero hunger - Justification

02.03.01 My project contributes to the Good health and well-being goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.03.02 Good health and well-being - Justification

This free and accessible intervention will be researching the feasibility and acceptability of using art as part of other therapies for the betterment of mental wellness. With more research on its effectiveness this will bolster mental health.

02.04.01 My project contributes to the Quality education goal

4

02.04.02 Quality education - Justification

02.05.01 My project contributes to the Gender equality goal

4

02.05.02 Gender equality - Justification

02.06.01 My project contributes to the Clean water and sanitation goal

4

02.06.02 Clean water and sanitation - Justification

02.07.01 My project contributes to the Affordable and clean energy goal

3

02.07.02 Affordable and clean energy - Justification

02.08.01 My project contributes to the Decent work and economic growth

5

02.08.02 Decent work and economic growth - Justification

This project will create employment opportunities for various people, whether be specialists or nonspecialists.

02.09.01 My project contributes to the Industry innovation and infrastructure

4

02.09.02 Industry innovation and infrastructure - Justification

02.10.01 My project contributes to the Reduced inequalities goal

4

02.10.02 Reduced inequalities - Justification

02.11.01 My project contributes to the Sustainable cities and communities goal

4

02.11.02 Sustainable cities and communities - Justification

02.12.01 My project contributes to the Responsible consumption and production goal

4

02.12.02 Responsible consumption and production - Justification

02.13.01 My project contributes to the Climate action goal

3

02.13.02 Climate action - Justification

02.14.01 My project contributes to the Life below water goal

2

02.14.02 Life below water - Justification

02.15.01 My project contributes to the Life on land goal

3

02.15.02 Life on land - Justification

02.16.01 My project contributes to the Peace justice and strong institutions goal

3

02.16.02 Peace justice and strong institutions - Justification

02.17.01 My project contributes to the Partnerships for the goal

4

02.17.02 Partnerships for the goal - Justification

05.01 There are a large number of customers who already use a product/service very similar to the product/service we envision creating.

7 - Strongly Agree

05.02 The product/service we envision creating represents an entirely new type of product/service.

6

05.03 The product/service we envision creating could be described as a new technology.

4

05.04 The product/service we envision creating is an improvement on an existing product or service.

7 - Strongly Agree

05.05 The product/service we envision creating could be described as an extension of a range of products or services.

7 - Strongly Agree

05.06 The product/service we envision creating responds to a demand or need that has not been satisfied by other products/services.

7 - Strongly Agree

05.07 The product/service we envision creating is a new version of an old product/service.

4

05.08 Justification

The TRCW intervention is based on art activities which have always been a part of us, and though it may be seen as art therapy it has its own uniqueness which is evident from the model since it features training nonspecialists. The colouring book is also unique in the sense that it includes a data collection feature to measure it's effectiveness over time.

05.09 Who are your main potential competitors and what makes you stand out from them?

Friendship Bench Zimbabwe. I stand out from them because my model include arts and a lot of colour and fun activities.

10.06 Are you initiating actions within your community to promote the role of female entrepreneurs?

Yes, I have an online awareness campaign that I've been running for the past 3 years which supports women empowerment.