By Staff Reporter
The United Nations has selected 26-year-old Tanatswa Amanda Chikura as a Young Leader for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The announcement was made on United Nations Day on 24 October, which marks the date when the United Nations officially came into being.
Tanatswa, who is a Hughes Hall PhD candidate, is also the Founder and Director of the Ndinewe Foundation, a mental health organisation in Zimbabwe.
In an article published by Hughes Hall University, Tanatswa said: “Young people are everywhere and sometimes it takes a fellow youth to understand another’s needs. We have the ideas, solutions, creativity and so much more to add to the development of our nations. Youth leadership gives hope and inspiration to all. We are not only the future of tomorrow but the leaders of today.”
In 2023, Tanatswa received the prestigious Diana Award for her transformational mental health advocacy work in Africa, epitomised by her founding of the Ndinewe Foundation, which is changing lives across the region.
Before completing her psychology undergraduate degree, Tanatswa volunteered in the wider mental health arena in Zimbabwe, earning recognition in the field. The Ndinewe Foundation provides mental health education to marginalised urban areas, and her advocacy has led to collaborations with the Ministry of Youth, the police and professional psychologists. She also influenced national policies, contributing to the new National Sexual Harassment Policy in Zimbabwe.
Her supervisor, Dr Weir, said: “I’m delighted that Tanatswa has been selected as one of 17 Young Leaders for the SDGs. There were over 33,000 applicants for the cohort from more than 150 countries and Tanatswa will work with the UN over the next two years in this role.
