Young Leaders for development
In 2015, Shakira was selected as the European Development Days Young Leader for Health, to speak alongside esteemed Leaders such as Dr Margaret Chan from the World Health Organisation on the Ebola Outbreak. During EDD Shakira highlighted the role of corruption in Africa, the need for a United States of Africa as well as her work in disability related issues in healthcare. She is currently serving as the first editor for the Young Voices for Development Platform and is a prolific writer and blogger on various platforms including International Health Policies.
Shakira is also employed as a PhD research fellow at the Centre for Health Policy (CHP), South Africa (SA) and is involved in the multi-country Resilient and Responsive Health System (RESYST) project. The RESYST project is imperative in strengthening governance at the district (local) level of the health system in countries such as Kenya, Nigeria and SA.
In addition, Shakira is pursuing Doctoral Studies (Public Health) at the University of the Witwatersrand (SA). As a qualified demographer, Ms Choonara has extensive research experience in the field of malaria prevention and other health related issues. She has received numerous research awards and has participated in a number of prestigious leadership programmes. She has served and continues to serve on several committees at a university level.
Furthermore, Shakira has vast experience in public speaking, debating and engaging with prominent leaders. Most notably, she is an advocate for non-racism and is committed to improving the health system and achieving the right to health globally: this is evident through her research expertise, achievements and awards and noteworthy presence on social media.
Reflections on #AfricaDay2017 about the role of youth in implementing the Sustainable Development Goal 3: Good Health and Well-being
by Shakira Choonara
EDD Young Leader 2015, Shakira Choonara, was recently awarded the Woman of the Year in Healthcare Award, South Africa. She recollects her journey and experience here. As a young individual, I have one aspiration only and that is to bring healthcare to the poorest and most vulnerable, to bridge the inhumane, unjust gap and […]
by Shakira Choonara
My name’s Shakira Choonara. I’m from South Africa. In 2015, I attended the European Development Days in Brussels and spoke on high level panels alongside global decision makers.
by Shakira Choonara
This article is a part of the #AfricaSeries, the Young Leaders for Development’s recent campaign to highlight stories from the region. When Cost-Effectiveness Turns into Crime – Death of Vulnerable Populations (94+ Psychiatric Patients) in South Africa
by Shakira Choonara
Amidst the current #FeesMustFall Protests, tangible solutions and leadership with foresight is required to move beyond unsustainable protests. Let us use our minds to fight this!
by Shakira Choonara
Shakira Choonara’s keynote address at the Junior Public Health Association of South Africa (JuPHASA) 2016 conference
by Shakira Choonara
No discussion on HIV/AIDS can be complete without the nitty-gritties of target 3.3 (by 2030, end the epidemics of AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria and neglected tropical diseases and combat hepatitis, water-borne diseases and other communicable diseases) of Sustainable Development Goal 3 which ensures healthy lives and promotes well-being for all ages, and which we cannot forget ‘meshes’ […]
by Shakira Choonara
Nostalgia sets in when reflecting back to the Joint Research Centre (JRC) experience linked to the European Development Days Young Leader Programme.
by Shakira Choonara
The inaugural Young Leaders for Development Platform, is set to be launched at the European Development Days 2016 (#EDD2016) by Commissioner Neven Mimica – responsible for International Cooperation and Development.
by Shakira Choonara
Going through information on the previous editions of Women Deliver, I recall being awestruck by the list of speakers, number of female participants and the types of issues discussed; I must say the #WD2016 conference has lived up to my expectations. Women Deliver, began in 2007 as a global conference to address maternal mortality. This […]
by Shakira Choonara
At at a number of youth events, anti-apartheid struggle icon Ahmed Kathrada always emphasizes that youth should not take our freedom/democracy for granted. On that note, it is only fitting that I always start my write-ups with appreciation of the opportunities open to young South Africans today.
by Shakira Choonara
Choonara, S. Eyles. J. 2016. National Health Insurance: South Africa’s most progressive reform to date. South African Labour Bulletin. Volume 40
by Shakira Choonara & John Eyles
We managed to catch up with activist and blogger Shakira Choonara at Women Deliver 2016 to hear her views on youth participation and avoiding tokenism.
by Youth For Change UK| Youth For Change Tanzania
On 28 May 2015 the Joint Research Centre hosted the 15 Future Leaders for a workshop titled “Visions for the World in 2035”. The workshop took place in the EU Policy Lab that operates with a multidisciplinary team drawing on expertise in future oriented thinking, behavioural insights and design for policy approaches.
by Shakira Choonara
by European Commission
Young people aged 21-26, proactive about finding solutions to the world’s most pressing problems, have applied to be a Young Leader at the European Development Days to share their views on development.
by European Commission
Since the beginning of 2014, the world has been facing an unprecedented outbreak of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD), a lethal infectious disease that according to the World Health Organization’s (WHO) 6 May 2015 Report caused more than 11 005 deaths, including 507 health workers, and has resulted in tremendous suffering of people in West Africa.
by Shakira Choonara