Venant Mligo is co-founder and chairperson of the Mental Health Initiative and Youth Innovation Forum in Tanzania. This community-based civil organization promotes mental health and innovation among youth. He has also been a staff member at Mzumbe University in the Student’s Welfare Services Department for 12 years. Venant collaborates with Foundation for a Drug-Free World, providing youth with free substance abuse education and virtual Cognitive Behavioral Therapy services. Venant is an Awardee of the Hubert Humphrey Fellowship Training in Substance Abuse Education, Prevention, and Treatment Support at Virginia Commonwealth University, U.S.A., a Fulbright program. Venant is a Global Drug Demand Reduction professional member-UNODC cohort II 2020 and is also an International Society of Substance Use Professionals (ISSUP) member. He has participated in national and international mental health programs, including the NIDA International Forum 2022. Venant has a Bachelor’s Degree in Education from Mzumbe University and a Diploma in Teaching from Morogoro Teachers Training College. He has substantial experience promoting youth and students’ welfare through inclusive engagement and is a changemaker for better youth wellbeing.
