Tanatswa Amanda Chikaura's advocacy for mental health began after she learned that a fellow psychology student at the University of Zimbabwe had died by suicide. This tragedy revealed a critical gap: many young people facing mental health challenges lacked access to support.

Now 26 and a PhD researcher at the University of Cambridge, Chikaura leads the Ndinewe Foundation, a Zimbabwean organization dedicated to offering young people locally and culturally relevant mental health resources, peer support, and education. The foundation integrates mental health education into community activities such as sports, aiming to empower youth to support themselves and others.

Chikaura emphasized, “Our main goal is to ensure that young people have the resources and the tools they need to not only support themselves, but to support other people as well, and to ensure that these tools and resources are locally and culturally relevant.”

Highlighting the urgency of the issue, the World Health Organization reports suicide as the third leading cause of death among people aged 15 to 29, predominantly in low- and middle-income countries. Chikaura also noted that autistic individuals face a significantly higher risk of suicide, yet tailored support remains limited.

On Friday, July 18th, 2026, Chikaura will join 14 other UN Young Leaders for the Sustainable Development Goals at the UN Headquarters in New York for the event One World, One Game, One Goal. This youth-focused event, held ahead of the FIFA final matches, will spotlight the role of sport in advancing the Sustainable Development Goals.

Chikaura’s work reflects her belief that young people must be central to designing solutions for youth mental health challenges. “There is a lot of work that needs to be done,” she said. “Not only to raise mental health awareness, but to ensure that young people have the tools and the resources they need to thrive and live meaningful lives.”