Kapwani: From childhood advocate to global leader

AT 28 years old, Kapwani Kavenuke is carrying Tanzania’s voice onto the global stage. She is a lawyer, activist, and founder of Mojafam Organization and now, a 2025 Mandela Washington Fellow.

Her story reflects the bold spirit of Africa’s next generation of leaders. Her journey into leadership is a story of resilience, vision, and a determination to ensure that young people, women, and girls are not just seen but heard in decisionmaking spaces.

Kapwani’s selection as a 2025 Mandela Washington Fellow is not only a personal triumph but also a lesson in persistence. When she first applied in 2023, she made it through the rigorous interview process but was placed on the waitlist.

“Of course, I was a bit sad,” she recalls, “but I didn’t give up. I took time to reflect on my application, to understand who I was, who I wanted to become, and what I truly love.

I also reached out to alumni for advice and learned how to approach the process with more clarity and intention.” That reflection paid off. Two years later, she was selected for the 2025 cohort in the Public Management track, joining other African leaders in Phoenix, Arizona.

“What I love is community engagement, governance, diplomacy, and being a leader who serves their community. That clarity has carried me here,” she says.

Kapwani’s path to global leadership began when she was just 13 years old. A UNICEF essay competition calling for climate ambassadors caught her attention. She applied, won, and travelled to Zambia to attend the Children’s Climate Conference.

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“That experience opened my eyes to the global issues affecting young people and how children’s voices could make a difference,” she recalls.

From then on, she became committed to creating spaces for youth participation. At 16, she attended the ‘It’s About Us Youth Summit’ in Ireland, where she joined young advocates speaking out on climate change, child marriage, and other pressing issues.

“I realised then that youth inclusion in leadership was not optional, it was essential,” she says.

Kapwani later studied law at Saint Augustine University of Tanzania (SAUT), but her impact has extended far beyond the classroom.

She founded Mojafam Organization, which empowers youth, women, and girls to take the lead in advancing Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially gender equality (SDG 5), decent work (SDG 8), and climate action (SDG 13).

Through Mojafam, she has driven initiatives to strengthen food systems, climate resilience, and digital inclusion. Her advocacy is not abstract rooted in lived experience.

As a survivor of gender-based violence, she draws strength from her journey to inspire women and girls to claim their place in leadership. Kapwani’s influence extends across borders. She serves as Tanzania’s UN Youth Delegate and is a member of both the U.S. Embassy Youth Advisory Board and the EU Youth Sounding Board.

She also co-chairs the Women of the South Speak Out (WOSSO) Advisory Committee, a role previously held by Ms Nyaradzayi Gumbonzvanda, now Deputy Executive Director of UN Women.

Her growing profile has earned her roles in several international platforms, including the African Union Network of Youth in Diplomacy, the International Parliamentary Network on Education, and global health advocacy movements.

She is widely recognised for championing digital democracy, governance, and intergenerational leadership. Her efforts have not gone unnoticed.

In 2022, she was named Young Leader of the Year at the Tanzania Emerging Youth Awards. The following year, she received the Rising Woman Award, and in 2024, she won the World Bank Group Africa Debate Championship. Each accolade affirms her belief that persistence and vision can turn setbacks into stepping stones.

Kapwani believes youth deserve more than symbolic roles, they must be recognised as legitimate stakeholders in governance.

“Every leader today was once young, and youth must be recognised as active contributors in shaping policies and decisions,” she says.

She added, “For me, leadership starts with accountability. It’s not only about holding a position but about being part of the process, shaping solutions, and inspiring others to do the same.” Kapwani champions intergenerational collaboration, where the creativity of young people works alongside the wisdom of older generations to drive sustainable development.

Looking ahead to Tanzania’s Vision 2050 (Dira 2050), she imagines a generation of young people deeply engaged in governance, policymaking, and nation building.

Despite her global reach, Kapwani remains grounded in her community. She credits her family, friends, and the Mojafam team for being the backbone of her journey.

“Their constant encouragement has been the foundation of everything I’ve done,” she says.

“From starting an organisation to pursuing bold ideas, they have never made me feel like my dreams were too big.” She also draws inspiration from her accomplishments.

“When I see something, I have worked on yield results whether it’s a young person gaining confidence, a woman stepping into leadership, or a community programme making impact that’s what keeps me going.

Even small wins matter.” Now in the United States as part of the Mandela Washington Fellowship, Kapwani is using every opportunity to learn, share ideas, and build networks that will benefit Tanzania and the continent at large.

For her, the Fellowship is not just a personal achievement but a platform to amplify youth leadership, gender equality, and inclusive governance. Kapwani is shaping the narrative of Tanzanian youth leadership. She reminds us that setbacks are not endings, but opportunities to grow stronger and return wiser.