By Valerie Chatindo
From the dusty pathways of Chiredzi comes the story of a young leader who refuses to let silence define her generation.
“I am Tiyiso Mbeleji, born on 4 March 2008, and I proudly call Chiredzi District home. I am currently studying Maths, Biology and Chemistry at an Advanced Level at Chiredzi Government High School, but my greatest classroom has always been the community around me.
My journey as a young leader began in 2022, when I was in Form 1 at Dumisani Secondary School. That was the year I was selected to become a member of the Student Leaders Advisory Council under the guidance of my chaperone and mentor, Mr Edson Dongo, who was also my Primary Agriculture teacher and a Teach For Zimbabwe Fellow.
Through his mentorship, I stopped seeing myself as just a student and started seeing myself as a problem-solver. Together with my team, we rolled up our sleeves and took action within our school and community.
We collected plastic beer bottles to reduce litter and transformed them into colourful decorations for pathways and flower beds. We gathered seed trees for future planting initiatives. We organised clean-up campaigns that captured the attention of the wider community. We grew vegetables, dried them, and learned the importance of sustainability and planning for the future.
That was only the beginning.
I later joined the Kuyenda Collective through Teach For Zimbabwe, a programme focused on addressing the learning crisis by strengthening the education system itself. Through this experience, I learned that leadership is not about standing in front of people, but about standing with them to create solutions.
During my Form 1 and Form 2 years, my English teacher, Madam Rusenza, recognised potential in me and invited me to join the Girl Child Empowerment Club. Twice a week, we created a safe and empowering space where girls could breathe freely, speak openly, and believe in themselves. We spoke about courage, education, and refusing to feel ashamed of being girls. We broke the silence around menstruation, learned how to sew reusable sanitary pads, and even made mats together. Most importantly, we were reminded that while presentation matters, our voices matter even more.
The Kuyenda Collective has transformed me.
Before joining the programme, I was shy and often afraid to speak up. Today, I confidently stand before others, lead discussions, and express my ideas without shrinking myself. The programme taught me how to communicate effectively, collaborate with different people, and break large challenges into smaller, achievable actions. It opened my eyes to the educational challenges many young people face, while also showing me that we can be part of the solution. Through this journey, I have connected with mentors, fellow students, and leaders who continue to inspire me to grow every day. Most importantly, the experience taught me to believe in myself as a confident, responsible, and determined young woman who is capable of inspiring others.
And to top it all, the programme has given me the opportunity to travel by air for the very first time, to South Africa and Kenya.
GAWE and Secretary’s Merit Award Programme
This year, I had the honour of attending the GAWE and Secretary’s Merit Award Programme at Chiredzi Government High School.
For me, GAWE, the Global Action Week for Education, is more than just an event. It is a movement that advocates for quality education, gender equality, and youth empowerment. Walking into that hall reminded me what becomes possible when students, teachers, and community leaders genuinely believe that young people matter.
I watched learners express themselves through music, dance, drama, and public speaking. I saw the Secretary’s Merit Awards celebrate students who chose discipline, dedication, and hard work over shortcuts. In that moment, I realised education is about more than passing examinations. It also builds confidence, creativity, teamwork, and leadership.
The unity in that room reminded me of something I have carried with me since Form 1: when schools, organisations, and students work together, they create opportunities that can truly transform lives. I left feeling inspired to work harder, lead louder, and encourage other young people to use their talents and voices to uplift their communities.
My name is Tiyiso Mbeleji, and I am proof that when a girl is given space, mentorship, and a platform, she becomes a force for change.
I have learned that leadership begins with one simple decision: to care enough to act. And I am not done yet. I am still building, learning, and leading for my school, my community, and for every girl who believes her voice is too small to matter.”
Why This Matters
Tiyiso’s story reflects the heart of the Kuyenda Collective’s vision: that young people, especially those from rural communities, are active drivers of change, not simply its beneficiaries. Through mentorship, collective learning, advocacy, and community engagement, the Kuyenda Collective is creating spaces where young people can identify challenges within their communities and confidently become part of the solution. From environmental action to girl empowerment conversations and youth leadership initiatives, Tiyiso’s journey demonstrates the power of creative collectivism: the idea that meaningful change happens when communities come together to learn, support one another, and act collectively. Her story reminds us that transforming education means nurturing confident, compassionate, and socially conscious young leaders, not just improving learning outcomes.