Sylvester Mtenga: A Young Commonwealth Voice Exploring Tech, Writing, and Impact
July 6by Sameer Kumar Misra & Aditi Chhotaray
Sylvester Stephen Mtenga a young person who grew up in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, and studied at Academic International School is slowly building a path in the worlds of writing, technology, and youth advocacy.
He majored mostly in science subjects but had an interest in English Literature and writing. He’s especially interested in how digital tools and innovation can help solve problems and support communities, especially for young people across Africa.
Alongside his writing, Sylvester has been testing his skills in real workplaces. He has interned in Advanced Analytics and Machine Learning at CRDB Bank back home in Dar es Salaam. He’s currently interning with the World Agriculture Forum in the Netherlands, contributing to research and knowledge management on global food systems and sustainability.
His earlier roles include a stint as a Venture Capital and Business Analyst Intern at HP Tech Ventures, where he worked on startup research and investment insights, and a market research externship with Mobalytics. He has also been a delegate at the World Bank Youth Summit, and served as a Youth Ambassador with HundrED, where he was selected among 1,500 applicants globally, a youth platform based in Finland that supports people under 19 with training and connections for social impact projects.
His journey into youth networks began in December 2023, when he joined the Commonwealth Correspondents Network — a group of young writers from different Commonwealth countries who use storytelling and journalism to talk about issues that matter. Since then, Sylvester has written about things like Pan-Africanism, cybersecurity, mental health, and youth empowerment. In his own words he says that he’s not trying to be an expert, but he enjoys writing honestly, and often mixes his own personal thoughts with global topics.
Sylvester now helps lead the network as the Membership Lead. His role is mainly about staying in touch with other correspondents, supporting them, and making sure the network keeps running well. One highlight has been helping with the launch of a new youth-led Commonwealth Youth Voices podcast last year — a space where young people can share their views and stories which he currently hosts as well. This experience helped him grow and connect with others who care about creating change.
Over the last year, he’s also given two TED Talks. The first, in August 2024, was called “The Art of Visualization”, where he shared how using ideas like the law of attraction helped him stay motivated and focused on his goals. The second talk, in April 2025, was more personal: “How I Learnt to Speak Loudest Without Shouting.” In it, he spoke about being a shy kid, facing challenges, and slowly learning to express himself.
His message to other young people is simple:
“Just start. Take the first step. Ask for help if you need it, and don’t hide your ideas.”
And to Commonwealth leaders, he says:
“Actually listen to youth. Try new approaches. Create real opportunities that match the world we live in now.”
Sylvester’s still figuring things out, but he’s doing it with passion and purpose — and using his voice to encourage others along the way.
Aditi Chhotaray is an Intern working with NavKaushal – a startup by Sameer Misra
