The Sunday News
Robin Muchetu, Senior Reporter
A Bulawayo-based youth and entrepreneur who was chosen to represent Zimbabwe in London for the One Young World Summit said she learnt a lot of new innovations she intends to use back home for the benefit of other youths.
Miss Nomqhele Samantha Siziba, the founder and executive director of Youth Invest, a Trust working to promote the youth’s sustainable social and economic development through synergy efforts and capacity building focused on inclusive entrepreneurship and civic engagement.
The summit which took place last week was attended by more than 2 000 delegates, brings together the brightest young talent from every country and sector, working to accelerate social impact. Miss Siziba said she was elated over her nomination.
“It’s such honour which comes with a great deal of responsibility because I did not just go there for myself or for Youth Invest. I went to represent every young person in Zimbabwe. My participation at the One Young World Summit was instrumental in challenging orthodox means in problem solving. It was an opportunity to learn the various and unique strategies of what one can do or become through demonstrating possibilities that exist for the youth in Zimbabwe,” she said.
She said one of the greatest assets that Zimbabwe had more than any other resource is the people who are strong, resilient, welcoming, loving and ambitious.
“I managed to showcase these talents, skills and dynamism which the Zimbabwe youth possess and are using to achieve socio-economic development. Interestingly, the unique nature of my organisation’s thrust on the intersection between inclusive entrepreneurship and civic engagement resonated with One Young World Summit’s multi-stakeholder approach towards accelerating social impact.
“Throughout my career path, I have realised that inter-sectionality and collaboration are greatly embraced by the youth through their organisations and businesses thereby achieving synergic benefit. I also shared how my value of ubuntu had enabled me and my peers in our different leadership walks to role model youth and female leadership,” she said.
She said she managed to benefit a wide range of aspects that she will use back home.
“The global platform enhanced my integration into the global community of nations for meaningful collaborations in pushing the global development agenda. This is in line with my realisation through my previous international trips that the problems affecting us as Zimbabweans coincide and relate to problems affecting South Africa, Asia, Europe and so on. Therefore, although we might all be unique but our humanity, shared values of problem solving, humility and community are universal,” added Miss Siziba.
Miss Siziba said she also had the opportunity to be mentored by Prof Thuli Madonsela (former South Africa Public Protector) who attended the summit as a counsellor and speaker.
