Blessing Mutambara
I didn’t begin this journey with a blueprint for success. My toolkit comprised a sociology degree, an insatiable curiosity about human connection, and a fervent desire to contribute meaningfully. What truly caught me by surprise, however, was the profound impact the communities I aimed to serve would have on my own development.
My start was as a volunteer, immersing myself in the cadence of community work, observing the delicate dance of trust – how painstakingly it’s built, how swiftly it can fracture. This led to a role as a MERL Assistant, and ultimately, to my current position as the STEPS project officer at My Age Africa, navigating the intersection of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) and climate change in Masvingo. Each step presented unique lessons, building upon the last.
Working in SRHR programming within rural Zimbabwe is far from simple. You enter environments where crucial topics reproductive health, menstrual hygiene, bodily autonomy are often met with discomfort, even perceived as taboo. Some days, the resistance is tangible, progress feels elusive, and the drive home is filled with self-doubt, questioning the day’s impact. This unvarnished truth of the work is rarely discussed.
Yet, there are other days. Days when a young woman articulates a question she previously felt unable to voice. Days when young people, post-screening, declare with conviction, “we want to act.” These moments not only validate the challenging days but powerfully reaffirm the initial draw to this path.
I’ve learned that communities aren’t passively awaiting rescue. They seek to be heard, empowered with resources, and entrusted with their own destinies. My role, I’ve come to understand, isn’t to impose solutions, but to cultivate an environment where communities can discover and champion their own, fostering initiatives that will endure beyond any project’s funding cycle.
Today, I approach this work with fewer preconceptions and a heightened sense of curiosity. This shift, more than anything, has sharpened my professional abilities and enriched me as an individual.
