Mweene, Ng'andu nominated for YPIA’s 2014 Top 35 Africans Under 35

Zambia's young leaders, Erasmus Mweene and Mweshi Ngandu are among other African young people who were  nominated for YPIA’s 2014 Top 35 Africans Under 35. 

Mweene and Ng'andu were nominated in community development category.

In early 2014, Young People in International Affairs (YPIA) put out a worldwide call for nominations to find Africans under 35 years of age making an impact “in their respective countries, on the continent and in the wider world.” To qualify, they needed to have met the following conditions: Under the age of 35 at the time of call for applications; A citizen of an African country; Excelling in their respective field and area of expertise; Making a substantial impact on critical African issues and international affairs; Recognized among colleagues and the broader community as a leader/future leader (and); Values ethics and human rights. 

Mweene,26, has been named a global shaper by the World Economic Forum, engaging youth in social and economic issues ranging from development and sustainability to HIV/AIDS. He is a passionate activist for the disease, being a part of the Global Youth Coalition on HIV/AIDS; attending a number of forums in Zambia, Zimbabwe, Greece and the USA to name a few. He is also a founding director of Youth Activism for Change, a social platform implemented in Zambia bringing together other youth fighting to spark social change. He has recently returned from Dakar, Senegal where he attended the UN Pan African Leadership Summit. He is also the current Regional President of the Kairos Society. 

Meanwhile Ng'andu, 23, is passionate about social change and empowering young women, she is constantly working towards making herself a better person and encouraging others to do great for themselves. She was recently named ambassador to Zambia of Love167 Africa, and plans on reaching out to young females who have survived the effects of abuse and violence in order to help them move forward and maximize their full potential.She is a vibrant young woman, who always has something positive to contribute to any teamwork she gets involved in. Because of this she has been involved in a student society at her university that saw her spear heading many events and initiatives aimed at helping the community around them. Click here to read full stories of the nominated YPIA’s 2014 Top 35 Africans Under 35.