On September 16, 2026, on the open grounds of Shumba Mjini School in Pemba Zanzibar, UNESCO, in collaboration with Micheweni Community Radio brought together over 100 people around one important question: “What can we do, together, to help our children stay in school, thrive, and reach their dreams?”
Parents and guardians sat alongside teachers. Students shared the space with religious and community leaders, regional and district authorities, education officials and psychologists. At the centre of their conversation were findings from the 2025 Global School-based Student Health Survey (GSHS) and Global School Health Policies and Practices Survey (G-SHPPS), but the discussion was about much more than statistics. It was about what those findings mean in the everyday lives of Pemba’s children and young people.
For Salma Othman, a parent, change starts at home, with something as simple as making time to listen.
I try to stay close to my children. At least once a week, we sit together to talk about the challenges they face at home, on their way to school, and at school. I also make time to talk with children in my neighborhood.
Salma OthmanA parent, Pemba
Teacher Shapandu Sharif brought the conversation into the classroom, reminding parents that education works best when home and school are connected. He encouraged parents to visit schools, know their children’s teachers and follow up on attendance and progress.
The message was echoed by Regional Commissioner for Kaskazini Pemba Hon. Mgeni Khatib Yahya, who challenged community and religious leaders to take responsibility beyond the dialogue itself.
I urge religious and community leaders to go back and educate our communities, so that each of us can play a part in helping our young people achieve their educational dreams,” she said.
Hon. Mgeni Khatib YahyaRegional Commissioner, Kaskazini Pemba
The dialogue aimed to enhance the understanding and application of the 2025 GSHS and G-SHPPS findings, making sure that evidence influences programming, stakeholder discussions, and community initiatives throughout Zanzibar. By moving the findings from reports into a public community setting, the initiative provided local stakeholders with a chance to reflect on the evidence, relate it to their experiences, and explore new approaches they could implement.
And the conversation did not end at Shumba Mjini School. National and Community coverage through television and community radios carried the dialogue to audiences beyond the gathering. What began as evidence on paper became something more powerful: parents talking, teachers listening, leaders committing and communities recognising their own role in shaping young people’s lives.
