Tanzanian Youth Leader Gains Global Diplomacy Insights Through International Leadership Programme
Founded in the 12th century, Moscow has maintained strong diplomatic ties with Africa for decades. The European capital has served as a powerful ally to the continent for over sixty years, from supporting independence movements to providing educational opportunities for African scholars who have contributed to building their nations.
The Russian capital recently hosted 50 young leaders from around the world for the ‘New Generation’ programme, designed to strengthen relations between emerging leaders from Africa, Asia, Latin America, the Middle East, and Europe through people-to-people diplomacy.
Among the participants was Tanzanian Matthew Marandu, a young influencer and ‘Young Professional in Education’ Award winner based in Dar es Salaam.
The seven-day intensive programme covered global geopolitics, Russia-Africa relations, youth leadership and diplomacy, among other critical topics.
Matthew recalls his memorable first day, particularly the welcoming dinner where he connected with young people from Kenya, Malaysia, South Africa, and other countries. These initial interactions formed the foundation of a valuable professional network.
Known as ‘MC Marandu’, Matthew is a skilled orator who hosts ceremonies, speaks at global youth events, and uses his platform to engage fellow Gen Zs on their generation’s responsibilities in advancing Tanzania.
The programme coincided with a conference marking a hundred years of people-to-people diplomacy, emphasizing the importance of dialogue and understanding. Participants explored how cultural exchange, education, and youth involvement can bring nations together to address global challenges.
In Tanzania, Matthew serves as executive director at Youth Dreams Foundation, an NGO focusing on negotiations, youth engagement and diplomacy, and climate change.
"People-to-people diplomacy and the New Generation programme equipped me with more knowledge on diplomacy, collaborations, and leadership," he said.
This training comes at a crucial time as Matthew prepares to launch programmes centered on youth development. He emphasized that this life stage is critical for young people discovering their professional and academic paths.
"At this age, that’s the most important stage in their lives, and it’s the stage that can easily break or make a young person," Matthew said.
He believes guidance, knowledge sharing, global networking, and continuous learning are essential factors in determining what young people can achieve.
Matthew cautions his peers about the permanent nature of social media, warning that actions and words can have lasting consequences. His time in Moscow reinforced the value of direct youth engagement and learning from one another.
He is now working to extend his expertise to other young people willing to learn. Like many African nations, Tanzania faces challenges with youth representation and opportunities.
"Many young people are passionate and active but lack access to decision-making positions," he noted.
Matthew observed that African youth, including Tanzanians, lack adequate representation in institutions and politics where decisions affecting their lives are made. "Most of the decisions are made by the older generations," he added.
Economic barriers facing Tanzanian youth mirror those experienced by young people from other African nations. High unemployment and financial instability were among the key challenges discussed, with participants sharing potential solutions and successful interventions from their respective countries.
"If you look at financial instability, that alone prevents young people from participating in political activities or even running for office," he explained.
This financial barrier excludes youth from decision-making processes and limits their influence on governance. Many African participants at the forum relied on scholarships or external funding to attend, highlighting the broader challenge of accessing educational and professional development opportunities.
Matthew has identified gaps in leadership training and mentorship in Tanzania, expressing concern that young people are being left behind. "Most of them lack exposure to global leadership practices," he said.
He stressed that global leadership requires exposure to international studies, seminars, and practices that build confidence and competence. Without this exposure, it becomes difficult to engage youth on critical issues like climate change and environmental stewardship.
As a champion of youth leadership development, Matthew urges direct government investment in developing the young generation. He notes that private sector involvement remains limited, typically focused on in-house employee training rather than national-scale youth development.
Matthew is leveraging his connections to collaborate on leadership training opportunities that will benefit more young Tanzanians. He is personally organizing an event to reach youth across different regions of Tanzania, sharing knowledge gained from the New Generation conference.
His ambitious plans include potential collaboration with the Russian Embassy in Dar es Salaam to connect with more young Tanzanians and maximize knowledge sharing.
Matthew emphasizes the importance of mentorship, both as a mentee and mentor himself, all aimed at building a better nation.
He urges the older generation to trust and prepare young people who will inherit Tanzania’s future.
"If we want to build a better country, it’s obvious the youth are the inherent generation that will govern this country; you cannot plan the future and exclude them," he concluded.
