Our approach was developed where it matters the most – at the grassroots.

We believe this enables us to have a genuinely sustainable impact on the lives of young people, their families and their communities. Our regular impact studies provides evidence of how life has changed for the people we work with. 

Our work positively impacts on several global goals (Sustainable Development Goals) to make the world a better place by 2030:

SDG - Global Goal 1 No poverty
SDG - Global Goal 4 Quality Education
SDG - Global Goal 5 Gender equality
SDG - Global Goal 6 Clean water and sanitation
SDG - Global Goal 8 Decent work and economic growth

Impact Studies

Build It has undertaken annual impact studies since 2013. Each one enhances our learning, captures key insights and documents the value our work has added. They help us identify what has worked well, and what we can improve.

Our most recent study was carried out in November 2021. It looks at our Training into Work programme, and our community building projects from 2015, 2018 and 2019.

In line with previous years, the study continues to show a trend of positive change. Our skills training empowers young people with skills and opportunity to find work.

In 2022 we made the decision to move to commissioning an impact study every two years. In between impact studies, we would undertake a learning event.

We will commission our next independent impact study in 2023. 

Theory of Change

Our 2022 learning event focused on the redevelopment of our Theory of Change.

Our Theory of Change outlines our work in Zambia. It explains how we expect our efforts and activities to produce results towards brighter futures, and contribute to our final intended impact of higher quality of life and socio-economic status of young people and their communities in Zambia.

We recognise the lasting benefits of investing resources and influencing changes, especially in the construction sector. We leverage our successful partnerships with young people, communities, schools, civil society, employers, researchers, the private sector and the Government.

Our Theory of Change provides a conceptual framework within which our work takes place, setting out the most crucial change enablers; and how our work will activate these.  If you would like to find out more about our Theory of Change, please contact Christine Cartland, Head of Strategic Partnerships at [email protected]


Agness was 23 years old when she joined our training programme in 2015. We caught up with Agness as part of our 2021 Impact Study:

“I wanted to have the knowledge and skill in construction to have a job and an income. During the training, we finished with theory, and then we did our practical building Katuba Community School.

Not only did I benefit from the learning, but our community benefited too because our children now have a school nearby, and as parents, we stopped going very far to escort our children to school. This project brought life to our community.

Weeks later I started looking for piece jobs in the community, such as building toilets, and l managed to get a few jobs… I used the skill I got from Build It and created a five roomed house with the help of my cousin.

In addition to building the house, I managed to get some farming equipment that helped me start farming… From the money l received from farm products, I managed to develop a new business idea. I have now bought some material and I want to build a bar.”