When Amina Alidi stood before delegates at the United Nations’ 30th Commemoration of the World Programme of Action for Youth, she understood the weight of her message. “I wasn’t just speaking for Malawi,” she says. “I was speaking for every young person who had been told they were not ready or they are too young to lead.”

Delivering the opening remarks at such a global forum was, to her, transformative. It as “ reaffirmed her belief that youth empowerment must be intersectional, global, and unapologetic.” It also “deepened her commitment to policy advocacy.”

Her attendance at the United Nations General Assembly was the result of years of grassroots work, learning, and persistence.

“I’ve learned that representation is powerful,” she told Africa Renewal,  “but influence requires preparation, persistence, and partnerships.”

“Youth voices can shape global policy when backed by data, stories, and solidarity.”

The road to world stage

Amina’s journey to those international fora began far from New York or Addis Ababa — in Mangochi in the southern region of Malawi.

“Growing up in Mangochi was both humbling and empowering,” she recalls. Despite its rich culture and scenic beauty, the district faces significant development challenges. 

“I was raised in a community where access to education, healthcare, and opportunities was limited, especially for girls,” she says.

Those early inequalities shaped her worldview and fuel her drive to work for changes. 

“Witnessing these disparities firsthand instilled in me a deep sense of responsibility, not just to succeed personally, but to uplift others,” she says. 

“Leadership, for me, became a tool to challenge inequality and create space for voices that had long been silenced.”

Amina’s early work with civil society organizations, including VSO Malawi – a Volunteer International group and ACTIVE Malawi  both involved in youth-targeted education and health programmes, shaped, she said, her understanding of how real change takes root.

As one of the youngest facilitators in those programmes, she learned that communities respond when they are included and respected. Then, mentoring youth clubs in remote villages showed her how much young people could achieve with very little. She watched them build waste management systems, start small agricultural ventures, and help girls return to school. 

These experiences grounded her belief that development works best when youth lead their own solutions.

 “It taught me that community development thrives when solutions are locally owned,” she says.

Steady and personal

Amina says she is driven by the courage of the young people she meets, the belief her late mother instilled in her, and the purpose she found early in her journey. “Purpose is my compass.” 

“Unemployment, mental health, and limited access to quality education and SRHR (Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights) services are pressing issues for Malawian youth,” she notes. “Many feel excluded from decision-making and lack safe spaces to grow.”

Hence, institutions, she insists, must rethink their approach. 

 “Youth are not just recipients of aid or participants in programs — they are innovators, leaders, and experts in their own lived experiences. To support youth as genuine partners, institutions should co-design programs with them from the outset.”

She is equally passionate about young women’s leadership.

“Young women in Malawi are stepping into leadership like never before. Through my work with Mangochi Feminomics Hub, I’ve mentored teen mothers and young women who now lead advocacy campaigns and policy dialogues. Their evolution is not just symbolic — it’s structural,” she says.

Mental health, too, is central to her advocacy. “I push for mental health integration in youth programmes and speak openly to destigmatize it,” she says.

Her greatest lesson is one of self-acceptance that she would like to share.

 “I’ve learned that I am enough. That my voice, my story, and my perspective matter. Vulnerability is strength, and leadership is a journey of becoming.”

Looking ahead, she sees a generation in motion.

“What gives me hope is the boldness of our youth,” Amina says. “They are informed, innovative, and unapologetic. Despite challenges, they continue to rise.”

She dreams of “a Malawi and Africa where youth lead, women thrive, and communities flourish. Where leadership is inclusive, development is equitable, and dignity is non-negotiable.”

If she could redesign governance, she would make youth leadership “embedded in every structure, from local councils to global summits,” ensuring that youth advisory panels are “funded, respected, and empowered to influence decisions.”

Message

Her message to young advocates is simple, yet powerful:

“Your voice matters. You don’t need permission to lead. Start where you are, with what you have. Advocacy is a marathon, not a sprint. Surround yourself with people who uplift you, and never let anyone dim your light.”

Follow Africa Renewal’s Youth Series spotlighting young Africans who are driving change in their communities and beyond. Through their stories, we celebrate the energy, resilience, and resolve of these young people—and the powerful impact they are making. #youthinaction