27/04/2026
Last week, the supported a National Youth Indaba held at the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair under the theme Health, Wellbeing, Rights and Community Action. The convening brought together young people, Members of Parliament, traditional leaders, and reps from relevant line ministries for meaningful dialogue.
The discussions highlighted the critical role young people continue to play in shaping innovative, community driven solutions to the challenges they face.
Key insights included:
• Drug and substance abuse are closely linked with mental health challenges, with each worsening the other and negatively affecting young people’s wellbeing.
• The campaign continues to grow, inspiring new initiatives such as .
• Climate change related flooding disrupts communities and essential services, directly affecting young people’s sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) by limiting access to services and increasing risks of teenage pregnancies, HIV and STIs.
• Menstrual health remains a challenge, especially for young girls, with limited access to sanitary products and supportive environments affecting dignity and school attendance.
• The issue of “blessers” remains a concern, with adolescent girls often receiving material support from older partners without adequate awareness of the risks involved.
Overall, the Youth Indaba reinforced the importance of inclusive dialogue and coordinated action in addressing the interconnected challenges affecting young people.
