Global Youth Coalition Member Feature: Veronica Mrema

1. Where are you connected right now? Tell us about the work you're doing.
My name is Veronica Mrema. I am a media practitioner and multi-awarded journalist who covers science, health, and social news storytelling in Tanzania. I'm the founder of the online platform that is recognized nationally and internationally as the best in reporting different issues pertaining to science, health, and social news.

I am also the Chief Operational Manager for the Social Media Accounts of the Tanzania Road Safety Journalists Network (TRSJNET), the network established to campaign for safer roads to all road users in Tanzania and to reduce road deaths.

2. How did you first get involved in road safety and how long have you been working in the road safety and sustainable mobility field?
I have 10 years of experience in the field of journalism. Before having an understanding of road safety issues, my reports were focused on reporting the number of killed and injured because of road crashes. Since I attended a road safety training program organized by the World Health Organization (WHO) through the Blomberg Philanthropic project in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, and the Ministry of Home Affairs in co-operation, I was able to see the amount of data on road safety.

Through that project, I learned the best method of increasing my knowledge about the subject was to report on road safety instead of road crashes. From then on, my reporting on road safety has improved. Now I have the ability to develop detailed special reports which cater to various areas of road safety that help influence decision-makers to take action.

Take for example one special report I wrote which highlights how the transportation of charcoal through using bodaboda endangers the life and reproductive health of young people at Morogoro Road. The report shows that, in one month, more than 20 bodaboda were involved in road crashes. There were recorded deaths and injuries. Some reported to police stations but some did not.

I'm also among the road safety fellow journalists in Tanzania who benefited from the Bloomberg initiative. My colleagues and I are currently in the final stages of finalizing the official registration of the Tanzania Road Safety Fellows Network (TRSJNET)

Through the network, we intend to develop the spirit of educating the community to understand road safety because we still witness road accidents continue to affect the lives of Tanzanians.

3. Can you tell us a little bit about the road safety and sustainable mobility situation in your area?
Road safety in Tanzania is still a challenge; we still witness how road crashes affect the lives of people. Some die and some remain with permanent disabilities. Another challenge is the push for reforms that hopefully result in an improved road safety law. The law is outdated as it was created in 1973, which obviously needs to be updated to match the current situation on our roads.

4. Why do you think it's important to include young people in local and global road safety efforts?
Yes, it is very important to include the group of young people in an effort to strengthen road safety as it is the potential group that is said to be most affected by road crashes. There is always a need to educate young people so that they can make impactful contributions to addressing road safety issues and so that they are able to present their ideas in relevant ways.

5. Why did you join the Global Youth Coalition for Road Safety?
I decided to join the Global Youth Coalition for Road Safety because I saw that it is a platform that brings people together to learn, discuss, evaluate, and express opinions about road safety and the future of youth.

6. What are your comments on the Youth Coalition? Its activities? Its opportunities?
First of all, I would like to congratulate the founder of this idea for bringing together young people from different countries across the world, it is a good platform that gives young people the ability to think together about issues that concern us on the road.

In the future, I wish to see the Youth Coalition expanding its collaboration with youth in facilitating various innovative ideas which will help deliver road safety education to our communities. I also wish to see the Youth Coalition work with the Tanzania Road Safety Journalists Network in the future to share their ideas and experiences on different approaches that prevent road deaths.

7. Any messages for people who have not yet joined the coalition?

For youth who have not yet joined this Youth Coalition, my advice to you is not to be left behind. Join early, it is a platform where you will learn a lot and will help you personally and your community entirely.