By Ssaazi Kizito (SHE SOARS Youth Advisory Board) One of the most striking lessons I learned from the 2025 SHE SOARS All Partners Meeting in Lusaka is that adolescent health and economic empowerment are not parallel priorities—they are mutually reinforcing realities. When young people, for example, adolescent girls, are equipped with practical, income-generating skills, their …
Masitula Musubika, a 28-year-old from the Island of Jaguzi in Mayuge district, Eastern Uganda, lives with a physical disability. In 2024, she joined Restless Development as a Youth Researcher on the Youth Researchers Academy Project, focusing on the topic of examining the barriers and facilitators to accessing comprehensive sexual and reproductive health services among young …
Uganda’s demographic trends are shaping every aspect of its development From economic growth and education to healthcare, governance, security, and climate change adaptation. With a growing youth population, the government sees this as a historic opportunity to drive the country toward middle-income status. Vision 2040 and the National Development Plans are key to this ambitious …
How Abubakar Defied the Odds and Transformed His Community Abubakar Matumla, a young leader from Kibaha District, Tanzania, began his lifelong learning journey amidst the challenges of accessing education due to his family’s financial constraints. Despite these difficulties, his parents’ unwavering determination inspired him to pursue his studies, instilling in him values of courage and …
Young girls like Elizabeth are breaking barriers through education and setting an example to inspire others. Limited access to education for girls in rural Sierra Leone poses a significant challenge. Discriminatory practices often rooted in cultural norms and economic disparities hinder girls from receiving the life-changing education they deserve. Elizabeth is a 12-year-old young girl …
“I facilitate football drills lessons in community football teams to share sexual health information with young people.” Agness Malunga, 22, is a football player who plays for a youth football team in Katuba, a rural community in Mkushi District, Central Province, Zambia. Growing up, Agness always played football – a male-dominated game in her village. …
For Tonny and Claudia, a charged phone is the first priority ahead of a busy day volunteering. Tonny lists his morning tasks, giving us an idea of what his daily to-do list looks like. “First I travel to the project location, meet the project lead, and prepare to start monitoring a project. I speak to …
In Finnah’s community, teenage pregnancy and early marriage are problems facing many girls. “I grew up in Badala/Iyisia village in Sierra Leone. There are limited opportunities here for young people to make the best out of their lives. We are a loving family even though none of the children were fortunate enough to go to …
“People who receive an education are exposed to a wide range of opportunities. Now I provide for my needs and have my own business as a hairdresser.” Education can be life changing, helping girls shape their own future, on their terms. But in countries such as Sierra Leone, where 17 year old Sitta lives, systemic …