Protecting young women’s health in Zimbabwe

In Zimbabwe, restrictive laws and harmful social norms often block young women from making decisions about their own bodies. A moment that strengthened my commitment to this cause was meeting a 13 year old girl in my rural community who had dropped out of school due to an unintended pregnancy and lacked access to safe services or accurate information. Her story was not isolated; it reflected a broader, systemic injustice. Encounters like these convinced me that we need both stronger policies and empowered communities to protect young women’s health and rights.

Movements that shift power 

I have seen how powerful it is when young women are given the tools to analyze barriers, demand change, and co-create solutions. It reinforced my belief that health equity is achieved not only through technical interventions but also through movements that shift power and amplify marginalized voices.  The Master programme is a natural next step, equipping me with the skills to translate evidence into policy, strengthen health systems, and scale up equity-focused interventions.

My personal goal this year is to sharpen my research and policy analysis skills while building international networks with other changemakers. I aspire to return home better prepared to influence SRHR law and policy, support feminist organizing, and contribute to building a more just and equitable health system in Zimbabwe.