Online Reporter
Theseus Mauruki Shambare
ZIMBABWEAN youths are seeking to transform the country’s International Youth Humanitarian Camp into a global platform for youth-led humanitarian action, with plans to attract participants from Europe and the Asia-Pacific region.
The initiative, hosted by the Zimbabwe Red Cross Society (ZRCS), brought together almost 200 young people at Karumazondo Campsite in Marondera, including 22 international delegates from four African National Societies — Uganda, Ethiopia, Eswatini and Zambia.
Speaking on the sidelines of the official proceedings, ZRCS National Youth President Victor Chimhanda said the growing international participation marked a significant expansion from previous editions of the camp.
“Compared to last year’s camp, we have expanded significantly.
“This year, we have four national societies participating from the African region — Uganda, Ethiopia, Eswatini and Zambia — with a total of 22 international delegates. And in total we had almost 200 participants,” Chimhanda said.
Chimhanda said the growing participation had prompted the organisers to reposition the camp as an international platform for young people to exchange experiences and approaches to humanitarian work.
“We are calling this an international camp because we are beginning to cross borders and attract other National Societies from Southern Africa and the wider African region,” he said.
“Our intention is to grow this initiative into a global platform where young people from different parts of the world can come to Zimbabwe, experience what we are doing and learn from Zimbabwean youth.”
He said the organisers hoped to broaden participation beyond Africa in future editions, with Europe and the Asia-Pacific region among the areas they were targeting.
“As we look ahead to the next camp, we hope to attract more participants from other regions, including Europe and the Asia-Pacific region, so that they can also come to Zimbabwe, learn from our experiences and share their own approaches to youth-led humanitarian action,” Chimhanda said.
He said the participation of other National Societies was also creating opportunities for young people to establish partnerships and exchange ideas across borders.
“We would like to applaud the Secretariat for creating space for young people to invite and collaborate with other National Societies,” Chimhanda said.
“This has allowed us to build partnerships, exchange ideas and learn from one another.”
The camp was hosted by ZRCS in collaboration with the British Red Cross and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), which provided funding, resources and operational support.
Head of the IFRC Country Cluster Delegation for Zimbabwe, Zambia and Malawi, Kopano Benjamin Masilo, said empowering young people was critical to building resilient communities.
“Our youths are our leaders, and I always say they are leaders of today and tomorrow. If we want to see communities flourish, we need to ensure that young people are empowered mentally, emotionally and financially, while their physical capacity is still at its peak,” Masilo said.
The camp provided a platform for participants to exchange ideas on humanitarian action, leadership, innovation and community resilience while strengthening links between young volunteers from different countries.
