Trust Gets You Farther

September 10, 2009 - As one anonymous writer put it, "It takes years to build up trust but only a few seconds to destroy it...".

It wasn't until I read a blog post from one of my favourite writer on volunteering and NGOs (Mark Horoszowski), that a conversation I had with a colleague recently was jolted to the foremost part of my brain. The issue of 'trust' was raised in the general context of CIYDA as a young an innovative NGO advocating for youth development in Zimbabwe and its relationship with other institutions, both public sector (governmental) and corporate.

In his article today Mark Horoszowski outlines a list of people and things that he trusts and also dis-trusts. Amongst others in his trust list were family, friends, politicians, 'real people' etc and in the dis-trust list were corporations, most organisations, most politicians, 'fake people' etc. Mark goes on to state that, "Whether you have written it out or not like I have, I am sure you are like me in that you have a 'trust' and 'don't trust' list. So does everybody else".

When trying to convince people to donate or volunteer to and for your cause, are you on their 'trust' or 'don't trust' list? If you are on their 'don't trust' list, you have two options:

1. Earn Trust
2. Find a trusted person to represent you and your cause

Read Mark's blog HERE.

Now as I said earlier having had a conversation that touched on trust issues recently and then reading this article prompted me to think about CIYDA and where we stand and how young people view our endeavors. In line with its short term to long term objectives, CIYDA has always strove to maintain its position as a young, innovative and transparent organisation with a simplistic insight, for the youths and by the youth...of Zimbabwe. We have no claim to fame that points out at what we have achieved to warrant your immediate trust but CIYDA is an organisation that has identified a need amongst our Zimbabwean youths that we believe both public and private sector entities are partially culpable for in our country. We will stop at nothing to ensure effective tools to youth development are explored in Zimbabwe, we will knock on all the appropriate doors as we believe we have a tangible and sustainable solution and it will be a shame to play in the hands of skeptics and be selective of whom or what we decide to work with in pursuing something we believe is beneficial to Zimbabwean youths.

CIYDA reiterates its position in willing to work with anyone that seeks to achieve the same levels of youth development in Zimbabwe as it aspires for. This is why in our quest to do so we have approached the Ministry of Youth Development, Indigenisation and Empowerment in the Inclusive Government, private individuals at home and in Diaspora, corporate organisations at home, other NGOs at home and in Diaspora, all of different backgrounds. We believe everyone has something to bring to the table and should be allowed to do so as this is what we hope to foster in our organisation. The time of skepticism has passed, we need to start pulling in the same direction, yes there will be disagreements along the way but it's through productive dialogue between the youths as a united and unfaltering force and the influentials both in private and public sector that will make the difference we aspire for.

I am confident that with you as a Zimbabwean youths in your effort to continue learning more about CIYDA while at the same time CIYDA as a transparent organisation regularly furnishing you with its progress, whether irrelevant to you at that time or very significant, we can build trust and a lasting relationship. We are a young organisation so grow with us, look back with us in 10 years and nod in approval to the undoubted achievements we would have ALL overseen.

After all it takes long to build and earn your trust (a path we are confidently on at the moment)and only a few seconds to destroy, hence we are not gong to compromise that by embarking on misplaced agendas that can only serve to divide us. So if we are in your 'trusted' list, excellent and through our continued advocacy and project initiatives we will strive to remain there. If we are in your 'dis-trust' list then again we will continue to do what we are currently doing as we are confident we are on the right path thanks to the support of other youths as well as stakeholders and hope that one day you will recognize our effort and share in our vision for Zimbabwean youths and place us in your 'trust' list.

Thank you for all your support as CIYDA followers and our communication platforms remain open to you all.







Disclaimer: - Whilst every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information supplied herein from other websites, CIYDA cannot be held responsible for any errors or omissions. Unless otherwise indicated, opinions transferred from other websites and expressed herein are those of the author of the ORIGINAL article and do not necessarily represent the views of CIYDA, it's Executive Director and the CIYDA Team.

What is CIYDA
Contemporary Indigenous Youth Development Africa (CIYDA) is an non-profit organisation founded in 2008 and is based in Harare, Zimbabwe. CIYDA is working to develop and empower the youths of Zimbabwe for the benefits of the nation and Africa as a continent through the use of new media, information technology and networking amongst other things. Through these drivers, CIYDA aims to facilitate an information hub and service provision in the areas of Business Start-up, Social & Cultural Integration, Socio-economic Mentoring and Volunteering. CIYDA currently has a network connection of over 500 Zimbabwean youths in many countries amongst them, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, United Kingdom, United States of America, Australia and Canada.