When global lockdowns shuttered classrooms in March 2020, millions of students faced severe disruptions, but those living in displacement contexts were hit hardest. At the Tongogara Refugee Camp in Zimbabwe—home to more than 17,000 people displaced by conflict across central and eastern Africa—formal schooling abruptly stopped. Refusing to let their momentum stall, Prince Bashangezi and a group of fellow A-Level students at USAP Community School decided to create their own solution. Together, they launched TWEENS (Together We Educationally Empower Non-privileged Students), a peer-led educational network built on community resilience.
Key Highlights of the TWEENS Initiative
- Grassroots Youth Leadership: Created inside a refugee camp during a global lockdown to maintain educational access.
- Empathy-Driven Tutoring: Student mentors share the same background, challenges, and aspirations as their younger peers.
- Long-Term Expansion: Grown over five years from informal tutoring into a comprehensive network offering advanced coursework and specialized clubs.
Empowering Displaced Youth Through Peer-to-Peer Mentorship
TWEENS began as a service-learning initiative grounded in a clear and compelling concept: students who have navigated severe hardship are uniquely positioned to mentor others facing the exact same struggles. The original student tutors understood what it meant to study without consistent access to materials, reliable technology, or conventional academic support systems. By teaching younger students within the camp, they created an engaging and supportive environment designed specifically for their community's reality.
Supported by Education Matters Africa, the initiative quickly evolved from a temporary crisis response into a long-term academic pillar. For Prince, whose personal journey involved surviving family loss during war, guiding others became a powerful pathway toward community restoration. His academic dedication led him to become an alumnus of Waterford Kamhlaba UWC of Southern Africa and eventually connected him with the Global Student Haven Initiative at Pomona College, where he currently pursues degrees in computer science and economics.
The Unique Strength of Proximity in Educational Support
While traditional aid programs provide critical resources, peer-to-peer models offer a distinct advantage that outside programs cannot easily replicate. TWEENS tutors are not temporary visitors or external volunteers; they live in the same camp, navigate the same daily circumstances, and understand the nuanced challenges faced by their students. Their authority and trust come directly from shared experiences.
In displacement settings, falling behind in school can lead to severe long-term disadvantages. By maintaining continuous educational engagement, TWEENS helps protect young learners from extended learning gaps. The program demonstrates that even simple, student-led initiatives can safeguard educational progress when traditional structures are unavailable.
Expanding Horizons: Continuous Growth and Future Impact
More than five years after its founding, TWEENS continues to thrive and broaden its reach. What started as basic peer tutoring during a lockdown has expanded into a multi-faceted academic center. Today, the program provides comprehensive A-Level prep, ongoing homework assistance, and a dedicated girls' book club focused on building confidence and literacy among young women.
Prince’s academic focus on computer science and economics directly informs his vision for the future, exploring how technology and thoughtful resource distribution can break down barriers to quality education worldwide. TWEENS stands as an inspiring testament to the power of youth initiative, showing how empathy and determination can turn shared challenges into lasting educational opportunities.
Source: The Optimist Daily
