By Lisca Philo
In an effort to uplift and empower young women in decision making processes and learning about critical parliament issues and leadership, non profit organization Young Minds Africa in collaboration with Female Students Network Trust had a stakeholder engagement meeting which reviewed the Model Parliament Africa program , which is the first program that will be taking place in Zimbabwe.
The program which is a pilot program and first of its kind, is an initiative designed for female students from tertiary institutions and young women from the age of 19 to 27 who have political and leadership interests and are mentored in leadership, Parliamentary debates and civic engagement.
Speaking during an interview with Goromondo News, the Executive Director of Female Students Network Trust Evernice Munando said, “The objective of the program is to ensure that our young women are able to take up the real and challenges portfolios and also leadership positions with the desires and zeal to participate in the realities of leadership that are happening in Zimbabwe”.
The Model Parliamentary Program is also there to breach the gape between theory and practice as it will take participants into four training stages which are classroom training,engagement with political institutions and leaders,taken through Parliamentary seating and debates and lastly Parliament Simulation where they are prepared to engage in the real world.
Laone Desert from Young Minds Africa also stated that the program is not only a platform of learning but also a celebration of the strength and resilience of young women in leadership.
“As we said this is a pilot program, but we have hope that it will be successful and it will have broader support in future across Zimbabwe. Our goal is clear and it is to create an inclusive political environment where young women can thrive and have their voices heard” she said
