Natalie Mhlanga is a compassionate, driven young woman who wants to grow her experience in case management, advocacy, and communication. I am currently pursuing a degree in Social Work at Zimbabwe Ezekiel Guti University, demonstrating my commitment to developing the knowledge and skills necessary for a career in community work. With my dedication to helping others and my passion for children’s rights, I am eager to use my skills and experience to make a positive impact in the lives of those in need.
As part of the 2024 leadership bootcamp, I have gained additional skills in leadership and advocacy, which I believe will be essential in my future career. l learnt that leaders speak boldly, loaded with facts, understanding and passion; and remain committed to what they stand for. Moreover, a good leader must make time for self-care, which is an absolute necessity to deal with burnout or compassion fatigue and is essential to sustain energy and resilience for the calling of community work.
The Director of TaLl Advocate Nyaradzo Mashayamombe highlighted that every individual has his or her strength and weakness and should therefore appreciate and embrace the good while diligently working on their weaknesses. My passion for social change and children’s rights, combined with my experience in advocacy and communication, make me confident that I will be able to contribute significantly as a young leader to the young girls and the broader community.
I plan to be working with the girl child as active agents of development through creation of engagement platforms, capacity building activities and amplifying their voice after the leadership bootcamp as part of my Youth Engaging Local Leaders (YELL) as I go through the year-long LEMHs leadership programme. I aim to advocate on children’s rights through child rights clubs that will advocate for children rights but mainly highlighting on all forms of abuse. I want to work with schools in my Chitungwiza community. As someone who has dealt with case management, l aim to do awareness campaigns through TALI networks and mine as well.
As an individual l hope to achieve child rights clubs that provides for and support girl child empowerment, moving towards the total emancipation of the girl child.