Shifting the Narrative

Since I joined EMpower in January earlier this year, one of my key deliverables has been to lead and implement Meaningful Youth Engagement (MYE) in South Africa (SA), with a focus on mental health. MYE essentially means to centre young people, their voices, choices, and wisdom in a non-tokenistic way. Last week, we observed International Youth Day (IYD), which made me think about its significance at EMpower.

In recent years, EMpower has embarked on a transformative journey toward embracing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in every facet of our work. This journey began in earnest after the tragic murder of George Floyd in 2020, which sparked a global movement and a critical examination of systemic inequalities. For EMpower, it was a moment of profound reflection, leading to the formation of the IDEA Task Force—a volunteer group dedicated to promoting Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility within our organisation.

Just over a decade ago, I made the biggest professional decision of my life. At the time, I was finishing an MBA and working on secondment with McKinsey & Co. I received two job offers in a week – one was to continue in change management consultancy and the other to work for an NGO. Often, I say that I chose the “wrong” one, but I promise it’s a joke.

Since COVID-19, people seem more comfortable talking about their emotional state and are less likely to be judged. It has become okay to say, "I feel depressed," "I feel anxious," or "I feel isolated.” And yet, the term “mental health” still carries a considerable stigma. Often, when used, it’s interpreted as "mental disorder."

Visiting EMpower’s partners on the ground is an incredibly moving, emotional, and thought-provoking experience. Out of a whirlwind of sights and sounds and stories, there is always a universal life lesson to take home. Having recently returned from India, I would like to share something that made me think about my own professional experiences and the world in general. Having heard of it so much over the years, I finally had the absolute joy of visiting one of the Adolescent Girls Learning Communities with long-time EMpower grantee partner Jan Sahas in Rajasthan.

In Mexico, nestled within the community of Guaquitepec, shines a beacon of hope and change: Patronato Pro Educación Guaquitepec. This grassroots organisation was born out of the community’s need for better education and mainly serves the Tseltal people, a prominent ancient Mayan population residing in the Chiapas highlands. For over two decades, Patronato Pro Educación Guaquitepec has offered a uniquely tailored educational model which goes beyond traditional curricula, empowering students and parents—particularly from a gender lens. This International Women’s Day, I am heartened by all that they have achieved and are setting out to do. I recently witnessed firsthand how they transform attitudes and beliefs about gender and the role of women and girls.