The Graça Machel Trust has been running a Youth Advocates programme. This is a mentorship programme targeting young people from Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania, and Zambia on how to champion Reproductive, Maternal, New-born, Child and Adolescent Health and Nutrition, (RMNCAH+N) in their countries. This month, the Trust is excited to welcome on board our newest members joining the team of Youth Advocates under the Adolescent Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights Hivos Project. This is a very exciting journey for us as we continue our advocacy work towards the realisation of rights and access to quality Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) services and information by marginalised groups, particularly girls and women.
Malawi Youth Advocates
Sussanie Phiri
Sussanie Phiri (25 years old)
Sussanie is a force to be reckoned with! This dynamic young lady has worked on raising awareness of SRHR issues such as Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE), Gender and Human Papillomavirus vaccination. Sussanie joins the Nkathabay team as a District Youth Advocate. We can’t wait to see how this young lady transforms in the next couple of months!
Eric Musiwa Banda
Eric Musiwa Banda (25 years old) – Malawi
Eric Banda is an innovator and the co-Founder of the African Youth Employment Initiatives (AYEI), a non-governmental organisation which aims to empower young people through agricultural activities. Eric joins the Nkathabay team as a District Youth Advocate. We look forward to working with Eric, as we improve the lives of young people in Nkathabay.
Zambia Youth Advocates
Kennedy Banda
Kennedy Banda (20 years old)
Kennedy says his main goal in life is to ensure the vulnerable and marginalised in society (particularly young women and men), have a better and brighter future. Kennedy joins the Kitwe team as a District Youth Advocate. We welcome Kennedy to the team and can’t wait to see him in action!
Thelma Chalwe
Thelma Chalwe (25 years old) – Zambia
Thelma is an upcoming influencer in the SRHR space and advocates for young people in promoting Reproductive Health and Rights in her district, particularly for young people living with disabilities. Thelma joins the Kitwe team as a District Youth Advocate. Watch this space for more on Thelma!
Sussaine, Eric, Kennedy and Thelma join the Trust’s already existing eight young advocates who are poised to create social transformation in their communities and countries through advocacy. The project focuses mainly on education, health and nutrition, early childhood development and the fight against child rights violations. Read more on our Children’s Rights Programme here.
The Trust supports and mobilises civil society networks on issues of ending child marriage, ending violence against children, ending female genital mutilation and promoting children’s rights, to carry out advocacy and action across Africa. Special focus is placed on Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania and Zambia where child marriage continues to be a problem largely driven by poverty, gender inequality, harmful traditional practices, conflict, low levels of literacy, limited opportunities for girls and weak or non-existent protective and preventive legal frameworks.
Education is a fundamental right for all children, which is also a vehicle for social, economic and political transformation in communities, countries and the African continent at large. Recent studies indicate a lack of progress in some of the critical commitments aimed at improving education quality, access, retention and achievement, particularly for girls. In most African countries, girls may face barriers to learning, especially when they reach post-primary levels of education. By implementing multi-dimensional approaches to education which includes core education, personal development, life skills and economic competencies, the Trust partners with funding partners, governments, civil societies and the private sector to improve education access.
The Nutrition and Reproductive, Maternal, New-born, Child and Adolescent Health and Nutrition, (RMNCAH+N) of the Children’s Rights and Development Programme aims at promoting the Global Strategy for women, children and adolescents’ health within the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) agenda. The strategy emphasises on the importance of effective country leadership as a common factor across countries making progress in improving the health of women, children and adolescents.
Through its Early Childhood Development (ECD) plan, The Trust will seek to put into action the new science and evidence Report that was presented by Lancet Series on Good and early development – the right of every child. This will be achieved by mobilising like-minded partners to contribute in the new science and evidence to reach all young children with ECD. The Trust’s goal is to be a catalyst for doing things differently, in particular, to rid fragmentation and lack of coordination across ECD sectors. In response to evidence showing the importance of political will in turning the tide against the current poor access and quality of ECD. Even before conception, starting with a mother’s health and social economic conditions, the early years of a child’s life form a fundamental foundation that determines whether a child will survive and thrive optimally.