Research & Insights
Driven by Insight.
Everything we build is grounded in listening — to young people, their families, and the broader Zimbabwean community in the UK.
Community
Community-Led Research
At MwanaMukomana, we believe that building a genuinely useful community begins with deep understanding. Research and community-led insight are at the heart of everything we do.
Being research-led means our approach is shaped by the real needs of those we serve — not assumptions. This commitment to understanding drives our decisions and helps us create environments that genuinely support the young people in our community.
Evidence-Based
Our community spaces are built on solid research and continuous feedback.
Community-Led
We listen to and learn from the voices that matter most — the young people themselves.
Always Improving
Regular research helps us adapt and deepen our impact over time.
The Context
Data.
Data by organisations such as the Centre of Policy Research for Men and Boys (CPRMB), moreover, show broader risks of higher rates of suicide among men, and the role of community-based organisations in helping alleviate those risks.
Data by other sources shows how gaps in youth work provision can lead to challenging behaviour.
If we are seeing these trends in our youth, what do our solutions look like?
MwanaMukomana intends to be a pioneer organisation pioneering solutions for our communities.
Academic Research
Research We're Reading
A curated collection of academic papers and official reports that inform our understanding of the Zimbabwean community in the UK — and the broader context our young people are growing up in.
Raising Children in the UK: The Screams of Zimbabwean Migrant Parents
Machaka, R. — Routledge, 2023
An exploration of the unique pressures and experiences faced by Zimbabwean parents raising children in the UK, examining cultural tensions, parenting challenges, and community resilience.
Parenting among Settled Migrants from Southern Africa: A Qualitative Evidence Synthesis
ResearchGate Publication — 2021
A qualitative evidence synthesis examining the parenting experiences of settled migrants from Southern Africa, with insights into identity, belonging, and intergenerational dynamics.
The Lived Educational Experiences of Zimbabwean Males Who Transition into English Schools
Leeds Beckett University — Doctoral Thesis
A doctoral thesis examining the lived educational experiences of Zimbabwean males transitioning into the English school system — directly relevant to the boys and young men at the heart of MwanaMukomana.