Don’t apologise, you are a unique individual, and it is okay to be you

What does your work with the youth involve?

I think of my work as a compass that guides young people as they navigate the transition from childhood to adulthood; it largely involves training and mentoring the youth in matters of sexual and reproductive health rights. 

What experiences best prepared you for your job?

My childhood and early adulthood. Having grown up without enough guidance, affirmation and validation, this shaped my ability to empathise with young people and understand the experiences that they go through. I realised early that youth need someone to hold their hand as they navigate the different transitions. 

What is the difference between having a parent or guardian that is present and having a mentor?

It takes a village to raise a child. Mentors form part of this village that is required to raise a child. A mentor does not take away the role of a parent, rather, complements them to ensure that an individual attains their optimum capacity. Statistically, the role of non-familial adults in the lives of at-risk children has been found to be beneficial in increasing resilience and success in the face of adversity and/or indecision. 

Your work is heavily pivoted on the idea of mentoring the youth, why?

The journey from childhood to young adulthood is a maze. The youth are in transit, so to speak; they are no longer children and they are not adults. The transitioning can be disorienting and confusing because a lot is involved. This group of people need a lot of guidance because this is the first major shift that human beings make in their lives, so again, this makes it a very important stage that needs a lot of guidance from the society. How this transition is navigated will have an impact on the kind of citizen that eventually joins the society. 

What would you say to a young person who is just setting out in a career in public health?

First, it is very important to fully understand what public health is. There is a misconception about how public health differs from pure medicine, so the clarity must start here. That said, Public Health is a very fulfilling career with a lot of possibilities. Everything must, however, start from the point of correct understanding. Seek internships and network from an early age because this opens further avenues. 

What didn’t you know at 24 that you think would have made a difference in your life if you did?

That I was a unique individual and that it was okay to be me. I grew up with one parent, my dad, and there are so many things about my own growth and development that I did not understand and some of these ate into my self-esteem, so I initially struggled with self-esteem deficits which impeded my social adjustment and belonging, which I later had to labour to scale up. 

From a research perspective, your interactions and your experiences, do you think young people today are worse off in terms of behaviour than in previous generations? Any specifics? Why do you think this is so?

I do not think that this is necessarily true. Each generation faces challenges that are unique to their times and improvises solutions to these challenges while charting a way forward for themselves.

The current generation is neither unique nor insular to this reality. To speak in general terms, the current generation is lucky to live in a more open society with greater freedom and better access to technologies of information, entertainment, and travel and so on and they are able to use these possibilities to assert themselves which is also in line with the democratic expressions that we have today. That is why young people today seem more adventurous and less inhibited by culture and geography. 

What do you think of the portrayal of the young person in the media today?

Generally, I think that the media has given space for the young generation to present its best and in some instances, its worst. On the whole, I think the media is doing a good job at profiling the achievements of young people and we generally have a good representation of the youth on the media. 

What top skills do you think a young person needs to cultivate to deal with the difficult issues that emerge as they cross that line between childhood and adulthood?

Communication skills, decision making skills, relationship skills, managing emotions, assertiveness, self-esteem and learning to resist peer pressure. 

What are some of the mistakes that you made when you started out your career?

I presumed that as a programme coordinator of a youth programme, my word was law. It took me a while to understand that one of the cardinal principles of working with young people is that they want to be heard. 

Your consultancy, red door Consultancy, lists psycho-social and emotional imbalances, sexual and reproductive health problems, financial management, academic discipline and a limited access to mentorship as some of the pivotal areas that need tackling for the young person today to move forward. Would you say that there is enough information out there about the centrality of these issues?

There is. The challenge is the disconnect between the youth, adults and culture.

The blending of local and global cultures can lead to a clash, that is why as a society, we need to get to a point where we create room for a balance between respect for our traditions while at the same time equipping the youth to face the reality of living in today’s world.