African Youth Network

For years I have been blogging about human rights, raising awareness, and sparking conversations. But today, I am taking a step further action. On 9 November 2018 I created a petition calling on the Zimbabwe government to implement the Universal Declaration of Human Rights into our national education system. The reality is alarming According to UNESCO, nearly 40% of youth globally cannot correctly define their basic rights. In Sub-Saharan Africa, less than 25% of secondary schools integrate human rights education into their curriculum. Studies show that young people who are denied human rights education are twice as likely to experience exploitation, abuse, and political manipulation as adults. This is not just a gap in knowledge, it is the deliberate breeding of a generation that is unaware, unprotected and vulnerable. A generation that will grow into adults unable to defend themselves against systemic injustices simply because they were never taught their rights. We cannot allow this...

Leaders are everywhere At all corners of the globe, in all types of organizations, doing all types of work.  Anyone who seeks to make the world a better place is a leader. Leaders are those who seek to make change. In politics, in business or society, leaders always find themselves at the heart of change. Leaders help people, organizations and societies navigate this change and help people find a better way to do things. One popular myth about leadership is that leaders are only the ones sitting at the top of an organization, but NO, a  CEO of a major company, the president of a nation or a champion leading social change. These are all leaders, but you don’t have to have a formal title or role to be a leader. Leaders are those people who are able to influence others towards reaching a goal, completing a mission or creating new ideas. Leaders are people who institute change, influence a situation or can bring creative problem solving to existing problems. In...

Every stage of life is tied to recognition by government institutions. This is not simply paperwork, it is the state confirming your human rights in practical terms. Right to Identity : Your birth is officially acknowledged with a birth certificate . Without it, a child may struggle to access school, healthcare, or social protection. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (Article 6-7) and the Constitution of Zimbabwe (Section 35) both affirm this right to legal recognition. Universal Declaration of Human Rights Constitution of Zimbabwe 2013, Section 35 Right to Education : You are certified as educated through school certificates . Education is a fundamental right under Section 75 of the Constitution , and government ensures it is structured, recognized, and valued. Constitution of Zimbabwe 2013, Section 75 Right to Work and Enterprise : Running a business requires a certificate of incorporation . This is part of how the state regulates and supports economic...

A Day at Ngomahuru Psychiatric Hospital Nestled about 52 kilometers outside Masvingo,  Ngomahuru Psychiatric Hospital  carries with it a deep and layered history. First built in the 1920s by the Dutch Reformed Church as a leprosy center, it later became a tuberculosis sanatorium before being converted into a psychiatric hospital in 1969. For decades, it has stood as one of Zimbabwe’s key mental health institutions, serving patients from Masvingo and beyond. The hospital is a place where resilience and compassion meet every single day. On  20 December 2017 , I visited Ngomahuru under the banners of  I Reach Out My Hand Africa  and  Christian Citizen Initiative Worldwide . Our mission was simple yet meaningful: to deliver food supplies and to spend time learning how the institution functions. Walking Through the Gates Africans in 21st century As we arrived, I carried with me both excitement and humility. Bringing food supplies might seem like a small gesture,...

In Libya, human lives are being commodified. Migrants, particularly from sub-Saharan Africa, are subjected to inhumane treatment, including enslavement, torture, and death. These atrocities persist despite international condemnation and the existence of human rights frameworks designed to protect individuals from such abuses. The United Nations has documented a range of human rights violations in Libya, including arbitrary detention, torture, and forced labor. The International Criminal Court has also expressed concern over the situation, urging Libyan authorities to take immediate action to address these issues. The international community has a responsibility to intervene. The United Nations, African Union, and other global entities must exert pressure on the Libyan government to end these practices. Diplomatic measures and support for humanitarian efforts are essential to compel change. Individuals can also play a pivotal role. By signing petitions, raising awareness, and supportin...

I have spent time speaking with young people, sitting in classrooms, and listening carefully. What shocked me most in my recent research is this: the majority of our young people in Zimbabwe do not actually know what human rights are. Ask them to name even three rights they are entitled to under the Constitution, and silence follows. It is not their fault. It is ours, as a system, as adults, and as leaders. Human rights by omission This is not an accident. Human rights education has been quietly excluded from our school curriculum. Yes, learners are exposed to subjects like Heritage Studies or Civic Education, but nowhere is there a clear, practical, and sustained teaching of human rights as guaranteed under the Constitution of Zimbabwe or international conventions. It is as if we are raising a generation to know history, mathematics and agriculture but not the very rights that safeguard their dignity and future. When a child does not know their rights, they do not know when those righ...