Chikaura’s journey into mental health advocacy began while studying psychology at the University of Zimbabwe after learning that a fellow student had died by suicide. “I saw the gap. I saw the need,” Chikaura told the United Nations. “As a young person, I realised that we needed youth-driven solutions for youth mental health challenges.”
Today, the 26-year-old PhD researcher at the University of Cambridge leads the Ndinewe Foundation, a Zimbabwean organisation focused on providing young people with culturally relevant mental health resources, peer support and education.
The name Ndinewe, which means I am with you, reflects the foundation’s mission of ensuring that young people do not face mental health challenges alone. “Our main goal is to ensure that young people have the resources and the tools they need to not only support themselves, but to support other people as well, and to ensure that these tools and resources are locally and culturally relevant,” said Chikaura.
One of the foundation’s key initiatives combines sport and mental health education, using sporting activities as a platform to engage children and young people in conversations about mental wellbeing.
Chikaura is among 15 UN Young Leaders for the Sustainable Development Goals who are participating in the One World, One Game, One Goal event at UN Headquarters ahead of the FIFA World Cup final matches. The event will highlight the role of sport in advancing the Sustainable Development Goals and launch a global youth mental health campaign.
For Chikaura, the campaign reflects a core belief that young people must be directly involved in designing solutions to the challenges affecting them.
The issue remains urgent. According to the World Health Organisation, suicide is the third leading cause of death among people aged 15 to 29 globally, with most cases occurring in low- and middle-income countries.
Chikaura said Africa’s youthful population makes investment in mental health services particularly important. “There is a lot of work that needs to be done,” said Chikaura. “Not only to raise mental health awareness, but to ensure that young people have the tools and the resources they need to thrive and live meaningful lives.”
Beyond advocacy, Chikaura’s academic research focuses on suicide prevention among autistic people, a group that faces a significantly higher risk of suicide but often lacks tailored support services.
As a UN Young Leader, Chikaura hopes to amplify the voices of young Zimbabweans and advocate for greater investment in mental health, which continues to receive a small share of healthcare funding in many countries. “Youth mental health has been neglected for far too long,” said Chikaura. “That cannot continue.”
Chikaura said the ultimate goal is to ensure every community has access to culturally relevant mental health support so that no young person is prevented from reaching their full potential. “It is my hope that young people are able to live and thrive and be the best versions of themselves,” said Chikaura.
–UN/ChChannelAfrica–
