Zahia Pty Ltd

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Building stronger, more connected communities.

At Zahia, we help organisations, schools and communities create meaningful connections through community development, training, engagement and practical resources.

About

Our Founder

Zizi Charida has spent close to three decades doing one thing well: helping communities and organisations discover what’s already working and building from there.

As the Founder and Principal of Zahia, and previously the decade long founder of Community Minds Ltd, Zizi brings a rare combination of grassroots community knowledge and organisational strategy. She’s an accredited Appreciative Inquiry facilitator and a practitioner of Asset Based Community Development (ABCD) approaches that trade the traditional “deficit model” for something more powerful: a deep focus on strengths.

Her work has been trusted by organisations ranging from the United Nations (International Organisation for Migration) and The Smith Family, to Youth Off The Streets, HOST International, City of Parramatta Council, and Uniting NSW/ACT.

Whether she’s designing a community consultation, facilitating a workshop, creating bespoke toolkits, or supporting organisations to implement citizen-driven change, Zizi’s approach remains the same: put people at the centre, and focus on what makes them flourish.

Our Work

At Zahia, we believe thriving communities are built by recognising strengths, fostering meaningful connections, and empowering people to take collective action.

We partner with organisations, schools, local governments and communities to co-design practical, community-led solutions that strengthen participation, inclusion and belonging. Guided by the principles of asset-based community development and appreciative inquiry, our work helps people move beyond problems to discover opportunities, build relationships and create lasting positive change.

Our services include training and workshops, community development supervision, strategic guidance, and innovative engagement tools that inspire genuine conversations and community action.

Through our initiatives, including Community Minds, Let’s Talk Community™, and Community Minded Kids, we provide resources, programs and experiences that encourage people of all ages to become active contributors to stronger, more connected communities.

Our vision is simple: to help create communities where everyone has the opportunity to participate, belong and thrive.

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Our Mission

Founded in 2024, Zahia exists to help build stronger, more connected communities where everyone can participate, belong and thrive. We do this by:

  • Empowering community-led action and collaboration.
  • Co-designing inclusive communities where people feel connected and supported.
  • Strengthening belonging through social justice, equity and genuine inclusion.

Testimonials

  • The Community Minded Kids program was in line with our vision and allowed us to think more creatively in creating a more community minded culture and environment in our school. It provided a platform for our students to contribute to their community based on their own level of ability.

    Principal, Caroline Chisholm School NSW

  • The Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs have a vision of community cohesion, and the Community Minded Kids (CMK) program enables our community to be united. The program prompts kids in our community to think beyond themselves and to discover life from another person’s perspective. CMK empowers kids to have empathy and to act upon that by helping those […]

    Community Worker, Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs Football Club

  • I wanted to pass on that our Megadeck cards arrived and they’re amazing, the quality and questions are so very thought through.

    Ellen, Community Development Officer, Bric Housing

  • This Let’s Talk Community™ Megadeck is the most beautiful and incredible resource I’ve ever seen for this work. Thank you so much for sending it in time for us to use at the United Communities Away Day. We’ve got a session on “asking good questions”, the cards are perfect for this.

    Charlie, Director of United Communities UK

  • The Let’s Talk Community™ Megadeck has become a valuable part of my facilitation toolkit. What distinguishes it is its thoughtful structure, 200 double-sided cards spanning People, Place, Me to We, Love and Future, enabling conversations to move from individual reflection to shared vision and collective action. I have used the Megadeck in community engagement forums, […]

    Jesse, Community Development Australia

Let’s work together to build on the strengths, assets and successes of our communities.

Let’s Talk!