My Beautiful Home is a cultural and environmental initiative in Zimbabwe, officially registered under the non-profit Ekhaya Gaia – Maison Terre, which is also registered as a private trust in Zimbabwe and as a non-profit in the USA. While the project is administratively held by Ekhaya Gaia, it is a partnership between three organizations:

• Ekhaya Gaia – Maison Terre
  
  

• Amagugu International Heritage Centre
  
  

• National Gallery of Zimbabwe in Bulawayo
  
  

The project was launched in 2014 and has grown significantly over the years. It began with 30 homesteads and reached a record 830 homesteads participating in the competition last year. 

The idea originates from an old ndebele tradition, which was fading away: each year, during the dry season of winter, rural women are decorating their homes using traditional techniques, natural pigments, and locally inspired patterns, combining cultural preservation with creativity and pride.

My Beautiful Home competition, boosting this tradition, celebrates vernacular architecture, promotes environmental awareness, and supports community resilience through artistic heritage. The project promotes the empowerment of rural women, encourages artistic expression and the transmission of traditional knowledge, supports local artisans, and fosters environmental protection through tree planting, micro-enterprise development, and the introduction of sustainable technologies such as ecological clay stoves (rocket stoves).

The project currently operates in seven wards of the Matobo District. Each ward has a dedicated ward coordinator, a local person who serves as a liaison between the project and the community. These coordinators are responsible for relaying information, gathering data, and organizing photo documentation campaigns throughout the year.

Final PRIZE-GIVING at Amagugu Heritage Center, on Kesi road, Matobo