Leave No Youth Behind

The #LeaveNoYouthBehind Campaign is a non-partisan initiative spearheaded by the National Association of Youth Organizations (NAYO) to empower young people to actively participate in Zimbabwe’s national processes, particularly electoral and governance activities. This campaign, built on the five pillars: Go Educate, Go Mobilize, Go Register, Go Vote, and Go Demand, aims to position young people as champions of national development by encouraging them to exercise their democratic right to vote, as enshrined in the Zimbabwean Constitution.
 

Campaign Highlights

The campaign focuses on addressing barriers that hinder youth participation, including voter apathy, limited access to information, and socio-political intimidation. Through innovative approaches such as Young Voter Hubs and peer-to-peer mobilization, the campaign links voter registration to broader socio-economic rights, demonstrating the direct connection between electoral participation and access to essential resources like education, water, food, and healthcare.
 

Key Results Achieved

• Impressive Social Media Coverage: The campaign garnered significant attention online, with the dedicated Leave No Youth Behind Twitter account gaining daily followers. This boosted awareness among young people and stakeholders.

• Extensive Community Engagement: Thousands were reached through outdoor peer-to-peer civic education mobilization meetings, creating a ripple effect as coordinators continued to engage communities even after the mobile voter registration blitz.

• Household Outreach: The campaign directly reached 250 households, spreading the message of voter registration across all age groups, emphasizing the importance of exercising democratic rights.

• Multiplier Effect: Coordinators’ efforts significantly amplified the campaign’s impact, leading to sustained community mobilization and increased participation.
   

Strategic Focus Areas

1. Raising Awareness of Voting as a Constitutional Right: Leveraging innovative tools to emphasize the importance of voting for development.

2. Social Media Campaigns: Targeting key issues like environmental rights, water rights, and dissemination of the Abolition of the Death Penalty Bill.

3. Civic Education Platforms: Addressing critical national topics, including language and cultural rights, the right to food amidst drought, and the impact of the heritage-based curriculum on education rights.

The Leave No Youth Behind Campaign continues to foster youth agency, ensuring they remain at the forefront of shaping Zimbabwe’s democratic and developmental trajectory. This impactful initiative reflects NAYO’s commitment to empowering youth and advancing inclusive governance in Zimbabwe.