2013
I grew up in a privileged house and not that I got everything I wanted but I did get basic things I needed to go on with in life. Things were great for me as a child because I always had someone to do things for me but then growing up came with a lot of responsibilities which included having to protect myself. I found myself having to speak up a lot within the house on things I felt was right and also stood my grounds a lot, no matter what my other family members and friends thought. I did speak up a lot when I got into high school and also in the university and that was why a lot of people in the university started addressing me as human rights activist, even when I didn’t consider myself officially an activist.
I moved to Eastern Nigeria to start up the Improved Youth Health Initiative without a penny in my pocket or in the bank but with a burning desire to reach out to people who are marginalised daily and people whose rights are constantly taken away from them. The Improved Youth Health Initiative today is still the only youth led organisation working on sexual health and rights for young people in Eastern Nigeria and led by young people. I currently serve as the Executive Director and it gives me great joy to see the organisation grow to what it is today and the stories of the young people who we have reached out to and work with continue to inspire me.
It gives me great joy to see the organisation grow to what it is today and the stories of the young people who we have reached out to and work with continue to inspire me.
I did this without the approval of my family and friends as everyone expected me to be more of a doctor or something that seemed more honourable and would not put my life at risk. The journey has not been all rosy, as I have had to do this so many times at my own personal risk but it also comes with so much joy because I have had the opportunity to advocate for the rights of so many people internationally through Youth Coalition for Sexual and Reproductive Rights. I have also served as an international youth advisor to UNFPA and an international youth advisor to Rutgers Nisso in the Netherlands. I am currently a steering committee member of the HIV Young Leaders Fund, an international youth activist for Advocates for Youth and a Youth Force member for the next international AIDS conference in Australia in 2014. I strongly believe that there is a need to create a change in this life and that is my driving force. I am strongly convinced that my journey has only just begun.
2015
Stephen Chukwumah is the founder and Executive Director of the Improved Youth Health Initiative. The Initiative advocates for improved sexual health and rights for youth living in Eastern Nigeria and is the only youth led organisation of its kind operating in the region.
After completing his fellowship Stephen returned to Nigeria reinvigorated to take his advocacy work to greater heights. He states that the fellowship was a "very good opportunity to take a break, to learn, get prepared to go back home and change the work you do … When I got back home the way that I was working became different, the fellowship increased my joy to keep doing what I was doing."
The Protective Fellowship Scheme gave Stephen an opportunity to learn and gain new life experiences while focussing on ways to improve how he carries out his advocacy work in Nigeria. In addition to the support it provides to human rights defenders, he found the fellowship's holistic approach to teaching and its welcoming and diverse learning environment outstanding. "In general, the best aspect was the opportunity to go to classes, to learn things, to interact with Masters students and the professors, participating in assignments, also the projects – the idea that you work on it while you are away is good, because it keeps you connected and engaged with work at home." He also regards opportunities to engage in public discussions regarding his work in East Nigeria as an additional highlight of the programme. In addition to being able to better refer to international human rights law during public engagements the programme helped to improve his public speaking ability. "With every new project I work on, every time I give a public speech I use these skills. I use them to improve my work … I am coordinating the Improved Youth Health Initiative more effectively."
The fellowship increased my joy to keep doing what I was doing.
Stephen explains that the fellowship opened his horizons and made him realise that there are many ways to solving the problems he encounters while doing his work. He has applied this new way of working back home which he believes has improved his interpersonal relationships with his colleagues as well as his organisation's ability to function more effectively. "I have been able to teach colleagues back home how to effectively do their own work. I have shared manuals and text books we had the opportunity to have in York. Enhancing our working ability in the end translates to effective work in the community". He believes that the training sessions he has conducted since returning has benefitted around 21 people, which include volunteers and staff of the Improved Youth Health Initiative.
After the programme Stephen returned to Nigeria and engaged in other activities that are helping to support the marginalised youth of the region. According to Stephen he began working on the African Queer Youth Initiative and he remains involved in the Rainbow Solidarity Fund – an organisation he was introduced to while in the UK. The programme gave him a great opportunity to build up a support network in the UK which he believes will aid in developing future initiatives for his work in Nigeria. Stephen explains that having the opportunity to make contact with several UK human rights advocacy groups and NGOs was "[v]ery useful in the sense that there are certain opportunities sent my way. Potential funding from donors and funding organisations."
The creative aspect of the fellowship left an indelible mark on Stephen and the way he now approaches his advocacy work. Stephen asserts that the work with CAHR's artist in residence was "Very, very, very, very important. It is good to be able to tell a story about the work you do. Very important to be in the space to share stories and Juliana’s role was important in that. The work she does there is important. It is important to be part of the creative writing class." These classes allowed Stephen to gain greater confidence in his work. "I am now able to tell my story in creative way, not being ashamed, and I am able to do so both in writing and speaking. This is very helpful."
Stephen commends the work being carried out by the Centre for Applied Human Rights in bringing together an eclectic group of human rights defenders and providing them with the knowledge base and experience to advance their advocacy work. Like many of the fellows on the programme Stephen agrees that it provides a much needed opportunity for defenders to take a step back from the often difficult work they carry out on behalf of the marginalised and the oppressed. "This programme is very important. While the results may not show immediately, it is an important opportunity for people to take a breath and keep doing the amazing things they do".
