By Lydia Zigomo, Regional Director, UNFPA East and Southern Africa
In the heart of Malawi, with the backdrop of the vibrant colors of the landscape and the warm smiles of its people, there exists a tale of courage, resilience, and hope that resonates deeply with the essence of the African child.
It’s a tale woven by the hands of Catherine, a spirited 13-year-old who dared to defy the odds stacked against her in a society where child marriage loomed like a shadow over young girls' futures. Catherine embodies the spirit of the African child.
This month, we are honoring the bravery and determination of young people who stand up for their rights and dreams. Picture this: a determined young girl, with dreams far bigger than the confines of her circumstances, standing resolute against the tide of tradition. Her journey symbolizes the power of youth to challenge the status quo and pave the way for a brighter future. Catherine’s story resonates with that of the young people who participated in the Soweto Uprising, in June 1976. The day is now honored across the continent as the Day of the African Child.
But Catherine's story is not just hers alone; it’s a narrative that echoes across the vast expanse of East and Southern Africa, where millions of young lives still hang in the balance. It’s a story that finds resonance in the work of regional initiatives like the Safeguard Young People Programme (SYP), whose commitment to upholding the rights of adolescents and young people has brought about remarkable change in the lives of young people across 12 countries in East and Southern Africa: Angola, Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
A collective commitment
Back in 2013, regional education and health ministers convened to collectively tackle these challenges, culminating in the Ministerial Commitment on comprehensive sexuality education and sexual and reproductive health services for adolescents and young people in East and Southern Africa. It is this collective aspiration that laid the foundation for the Programme’s establishment with the generous support of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation and the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands (Mozambique).
Since its inception, the Programme has been at the forefront of the fight against child marriage, gender-based violence, and HIV/AIDS, empowering young people to take control of their sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), and pursue their dreams without fear or discrimination. The impact of the Programme’s work is evident in the tangible progress made over the years, reaching over 17 million learners across 76,000 schools and 40 million exposures of young people to SRHR information and education and capacitating more than 1,300 health facilities to offer a standardized package of Adolescent and Youth-Friendly Health Services reaching over 14 million adolescents and young people with integrated SRHR services.
As we celebrated the Day of the African Child this month and reflected on the journey of the Programme, let us be inspired by the stories of courage, persistence and passion that have brought us to this moment. Let us honor the countless young people like Catherine who refuse to be silenced by the injustices of the world and instead choose to stand up and fight for their rights.
But let us also remember that the journey is far from over. There are still battles to be fought, obstacles to overcome, and dreams yet to be realized. As we look to the future, let us rededicate ourselves to the cause of youth empowerment, knowing that the future of our continent and indeed, our world rests in their hands.
In the words of Catherine and countless others like her, let us dare to dream, to defy, and to empower. For in the journey of the Safeguard Young People Programme lies the promise of a brighter, more equitable future for all.
