THE inaugural Purpose Conference, hosted on July 19 by award-winning life and career coach Tadzie Madzima, proved to be a transformative experience for participants, equipping them with the tools to align their careers with their calling.
Running under the theme Align, Activate, Achieve, the ground-breaking event, held at Sterling Hub in Eastlea, Harare, brought together industry leaders, creatives and young professionals for a day of inspiration, skills development and purposeful networking.
The conference featured a keynote address by Tendayi Denford Mutungamiri, alongside insightful panel discussions with experts, including Chef on Duty, Chrystal Bonzo, Amon Tangwena and Jonathan Kadurira.
Attendees engaged in purpose-driven speeches, hands-on masterclass discovery labs.
The event featured an “immersive legacy wall”, which transformed into an interactive centrepiece of the conference.
It featured powerful figures from history, including American host and television producer Oprah Winfrey, the late American actor Chadwick Boseman as well as apartheid activist and former President of South Africa, Nelson Mandela (also late), among others who have left enduring legacies that continue to inspire generations.
“At the centre of the wall, we left an open space where attendees could write down their own legacy statements and physically add them to the wall,” Madzima told NewsDay Life & Style.
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“This intentional design invited each person to see themselves as part of the same continuum — to reflect on the kind of impact they want to make and to declare it boldly.
“For many, it was the first time they had thought deeply about their legacy, let alone written it down in a public, in affirming way.”
Madzima is the founder of Ignite Youth Organisation (IYO), a local youth-focused non-profit establishment. It is a one-stop centre for young people, offering support, career guidance and coaching.
The Purpose Conference is one of many efforts of IYO to provide transformative experiences, bridging the gap between ambition and opportunity.
Facilitators Tinaani Nick Mwakutuya, Emelda Vhiriri Mahachi and Tatenda Mushoriwa led interactive sessions designed to help participants to uncover their strengths and chart meaningful career paths.
Meanwhile, performances by Leon Mwana Wajoze, Elluzhen, Tatiana Natalie Kondo as well as Sofar Harare alumnus, Eden Lang, and spoken word artist Kuda Rice added an artistic dimension to the event.
“Purpose is not just a concept, it is a feeling. And few things awaken emotion and deepen reflection like art and music,” Madzima added.
“We incorporated these creative elements throughout the conference to make the experience not just informative, but transformative.”
IYO serves as a career guidance and coaching centre, offering long-term initiatives to empower Zimbabwe’s next generation.
The organisation’s research reveals a stark reality: over 60% of youth in Zimbabwe’s low-income communities lack access to career guidance, while nearly 70% face barriers to skills development and employment opportunities.
According to organisers, proceeds from the event will support IYO programmes, which have already impacted over 30 000 youth nationwide.
