Shazrina Mussa Kitutu – A Journey of Impact and Leadership
I am Shazrina Mussa Kitutu, an undergraduate student in Computer Engineering at Sharif University of Technology in Tehran, Iran—the top university in the country. Originally from Tanzania, I began my academic journey at Wal Ul Asr Boys Seminary, and my story of leadership and impact took root with the UWEZO AWARD competitions in 2019.
It all began with a phone call after Friday prayers: our senior academic officer asked me to represent our school at an event hosted by the Great Hope Foundation. Joined by my teammate, Idrisa Omary Mlawa, I attended a seminar on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals at Makongo High School. From there, our journey of community engagement took off. We led environmental initiatives such as tree planting and cleanup drives, eventually ranking 7th in our first year despite significant challenges like media documentation losses.
In the following years, we deepened our work by integrating IT into school systems, organizing blood donation drives, and expanding our outreach through welfare and arts-based projects. In 2020, we placed 4th, and in 2021, I led the “Giving a Head Start” project—focusing on cancer awareness, diabetes education, and local economic empowerment through community soap-making workshops. Collaborating with leading institutions, we reached over 200 beneficiaries, and our efforts earned us the gold trophy as second-place runners-up. Although we believed our work warranted first place, the recognition affirmed our commitment to sustainable community service.
These experiences were instrumental in securing my current scholarship. Through UWEZO AWARD, I demonstrated consistent leadership, social impact, and academic engagement—qualities highly valued in competitive scholarship selections. The competitions didn't just earn accolades; they shaped my values and gave me a global perspective.
At Sharif University, I initially kept a low profile, but soon my dedication to extracurricular involvement brought me recognition. When the position of General Secretary of the University Government opened up—traditionally held by an international student—I was chosen from a pool of candidates based on my leadership background.
Just a month later, I contested for the role of Prime Minister of the University Government. Drawing on my Uwezo experience and prior leadership, I won with a historic 96% of the vote—the highest margin ever recorded. This overwhelming support propelled me to represent students at prestigious forums, most notably as a speaker at African Day 2023, organized by Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The event brought together 42 African ambassadors, consulates, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs himself, representing the President. Standing on that stage remains the proudest moment of my life, reaffirming my commitment to serve as a global voice for youth and change.
Since then, I’ve attended numerous international conferences and exhibitions, gaining broader exposure to global development challenges and leadership strategies.
Currently, I’m building a new organization that will expand the foundational values of Uwezo—focusing on sustainable, high-impact solutions in education, environment, and social welfare. Through this platform, I aspire to give back to the global community and foster a new generation of changemakers.
