Buddy-Up – Zimbabwe

Buddy-Up is a mental health support initiative focused on addressing the silent crisis of suicide and emotional distress among men in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. Through digital tools and community dialogue, the prototype aims to break stigma, build resilience, and create a supportive space where men can find help before it’s too late.

Breaking the Silence for Men’s Mental Health
Sehlile Maphosa – Bulawayo, Zimbabwe

For Sehlile Maphosa, joined the Ubuntu.Lab Transformative Leadership Programme with the intention to “sharpen my leadership skills, enhance personal and professional growth in order to serve better,” she says. She also “had a target of training young people in leadership development…” And ultimately hoped to be able to inspire and motivate others, which she is now doing through the prototype developed.

As the YMCA Bulawayo Branch Coordinator and a hub facilitator, Sehlile had long been attuned to the struggles in her community. But one issue began to weigh more heavily: the rising number of suicides among men. “I have counselled young man who have been in the verge of committing suicide,” she shares.

When her team was asked to design a prototype during the Programme  they didn’t hesitate to design an initiative addressing men’s mental health.

Together, they created Buddy-Up, a supportive system aimed at boosting men’s mental health through awareness, connection, and innovation. “We wanted to design a unique, innovative support system because men play a pivotal role in their families and communities. They need support to achieve their responsibilities, which is lacking [m]ost of the times,” Sehlile explains.

So far, she’s begun developing a chatbot—a tool that can offer information and connection discreetly, especially for those who may not feel comfortable seeking help in person. She’s also working closely with fellow hub members to design the broader programme and is planning a stakeholder meeting to gain community buy-in. For Sehlile, Buddy-Up is more than a project. It’s a lifeline—and a reminder that no one should have to suffer in silence.

“The Transformative Leadership program was not like other programmes. It was and is a journey of commitment to change. It brought out positivity and hope in me, which I try to rub into those I interact with,” is her reflection on the programme.

Sehlile Maphosa