Zimbabwe: Empowering youth to champion children’s rights and end gender based violence

Youth Advocates for Children’s Rights (YACR) is a bold, youth‑led organisation transforming communities in Zimbabwe by placing young people at the forefront of advocacy for children’s rights. Founded in response to rising cases of child abuse, early child marriage, gender‑based violence (GBV), and lack of access to education, YACR emerged from a simple but powerful belief: when young people are informed, empowered, and supported, they can lead meaningful, lasting change.

Established by Hon. Lloyd Mungani, a proud member of the Junior Council in Manyame, YACR was born out of the urgency to respond to the realities affecting children in marginalized spaces. These communities, rural and urban, impoverished and underserved, are often characterised by poverty, fractured families, and limited access to information. In these environments, children are left vulnerable, unheard, and unprotected.

YACR seeks to change this reality. From its inception, the organisation embraced a youth‑driven model that puts young people at the centre of its strategies and interventions. Through school outreach, awareness campaigns, and community dialogues, the organisation empowers youth to recognise violations, advocate for themselves and their peers, and mobilise communities to act.

A Movement Led by Youth, For Youth

What makes YACR distinct is not only its focus on children’s rights, but who leads the movement. Young people design the programmes, conduct sessions, facilitate dialogues, and engage communities. Their proximity to the issues means they bring authenticity, empathy, and energy that resonate deeply with children and parents alike. Working in partnership with schools, local leaders, and families, YACR provides lifesaving information about children’s rights, protection mechanisms, and the importance of education. 

Through this work, the organisation aims to:

• Raise awareness on children’s rights and protection
• Provide psychosocial support to survivors
• Create safe spaces for youth engagement
• Reduce early child marriages and incidents of GBV

As these initiatives gained traction, communities began to shift. Children who once suffered in silence started to speak up. Parents who had normalised harmful practices like early marriage began to reconsider. Even traditional leaders often reluctant to challenge entrenched social norms, began opening doors for YACR to conduct workshops and awareness sessions.

Visible Impact Across Communities

Since launching its flagship advocacy campaign, YACR has reached more than 1,000 community members through school sessions, church engagements, and community dialogues. These efforts have brought children’s rights to the centre of community consciousness.

One of the organisation’s most powerful achievements has been the establishment of peer advocacy clubs in schools. These clubs give young people the tools to educate others, report cases of abuse, and create safer learning environments. The result has been a notable increase in reports, not because abuse has grown, but because children now trust the systems and know they have a right to protection. In districts where YACR is active, early child marriage cases have dropped significantly, and more girls are remaining in school. Parents are now engaging constructively with their children, and caregivers have begun to appreciate the importance of listening to and supporting young people’s dreams.

Community leaders, once sceptical, now collaborate with YACR to strengthen local protection systems. In one district, the local council formally requested YACR’s assistance in developing community child protection guidelines, an important sign of institutional buy‑in. The ripple effects extend beyond households and classrooms. YACR’s youth volunteers have gone on to speak at national events and in the media, demonstrating not just empowerment, but leadership.

Building a Future of Sustained Change

For YACR, sustainability is not an abstract concept, it is woven into every action. Peer advocacy clubs will continue to shape future generations of young leaders, creating spaces where children can learn their rights and speak openly about their challenges.

Community outreach remains ongoing, with plans to deepen partnerships with churches, local leaders, and NGOs to keep children’s rights at the centre of community discourse. YACR also aims to integrate child protection education into school curriculums while strengthening psychosocial support services.

A Youth Leadership Program is in development to mentor future activists, ensuring that the movement does not fade but evolves with every new generation. Monitoring tools and feedback systems will help refine interventions and ensure they remain relevant. Sustainability, for YACR, is not just about maintaining programmes, it is about embedding a culture of protection, accountability, and empowerment.

Voices of Change

Before YACR, I didn't know I had rights. Now, I help my classmates understand that no one should abuse them— Tariro, Peer Advocate

We’ve seen a real transformation in how students express themselves. They are more open, more confident — Mr. Moyo, Teacher

After attending YACR’s workshop, I stopped pressuring my daughter into early marriage. I now support her dreams — Rudo, Parent 
 

By: Trish Nyamidzi