Nabiha Kassim Ally
Nabiha Kassim Ally is a 21 year old graduate of Lumumba Secondary School and a member of the Youth of the United Nations Association in Zanzibar. She is currently a UNICEF youth advocate and is passionate about sexual and reproductive health and rights, and mental health advocacy.
Nabiha was one of the representatives of children and young people who championed key issues affecting young Tanzanians among various stakeholders in commemoration of 75 years of UNICEF. She is also a champion of the Convention on the Rights of the Child and, during consultation with members of parliament in 2019, used her voice to address challenges about the education system in Tanzania. She is very passionate about achieving the SDGs.
Nabiha is also a champion trainer who completed five days of champion training hosted by UNICEF Africa. Her message to people is to be someone’s sunshine when their skies are grey.
One action you’d like people to do to help your work
“If there's something that I would really wish to happen that would help me in my work, it is for people to change their mindsets and the way that they think towards my advocacy issues (sexual and reproductive health and mental health). This is because it is a sort of taboo to talk about sexual and reproductive health matters and you are labelled as mannerless if you choose to talk about these issues. They are taken to be very private issues. Also, most of the time people mistake mental health with superstitious beliefs and when someone is mentally disturbed, they are taken to a witch doctor/religious leader instead of getting professional help.”