Alista Kainos is a 23-year old young woman studying Agricultural Economics and Development at Manicaland State University of Applied Sciences. She is the Director of Alista Youth Association, an organization registered under Zimbabwe Youth Council which focuses on Comprehensive Sexuality Education. The organization provides Sexual Reproductive Health Rights information, capacity building and counselling.
I was excited to participate in the 2024 LEMHs programme in order to boost my leadership skills. I grasped that a leader must possess qualities such as good communication, self-awareness, courage, active listening and integrity. A leader must speak with conviction, with factual information.
One of the topics which sparked my interest was Young Women and Intersectionality, where we examined how different forms of oppression overlap and interact to create a complex experience of discrimination. I understood that even though some forms of discrimination have been addresses, there continues to be other forms of discrimination that we should keep advocating against.
I learnt more about Sexual Reproductive Health Rights and Drug and Substance abuse. I want to share that information with my peers and my community, focusing on the effects on young women. I also want to show that young women can lead in advocating for issues affecting them and their communities.