Overview
About NuePath…
NuePath International Recovery Network (NIRN) was conceived in 2022, as an idea to create a supportive NETWORK that promotes RECOVERY from substance use disorders. That vision was recognised early. In 2024, while still a concept on paper, NuePath qualified for the prestigious Millennium Fellowship, a program jointly run by the Millennium Campus Network (MCN) andthe United Nations Academic Impact (UNAI). This validation came not because the idea was polished, but because the need was undeniable and the approach was radically different — one grounded in the conviction that young people could lead a multisectoral recovery movement.
During that same year, our Founder and Chairperson, Gift Nyakutira, was selected as the University of Zimbabwe Millennium Fellowship Campus Director — a moment he stood at the intersection of community impact and leadership. Soon after the program, Gift realized the need to transform NuePath from a student initiative into a registered, youth-led nonprofit organisation with a growing footprint and a fierce sense of urgency.
That transition was not fuelled by one person's ambition. It was powered by a team of vision-driven young leaders who became co-founders and executive committee members, each carrying a story that led them to volunteer for impact. We are proud to name them here:
Princess Sharon Ndlovu —Vice Chairperson
Mildred Thessa Blaim —Secretary General
Michelle Tinotenda Basikiti —Vice Secretary
Nyasha Mushipe —Treasurer General
Theophilus Tinotenda Greenwood —Vice Treasurer
Tanaka Ngwaru —Committee Member and Public Relations Officer
Ilana Gasa —Committee Member and Volunteer Coordinator
Wisdom Satambara —Committee Member and Research Director.
Every member of our Executive Committee has witnessed the crisis of substance abuse — some in their own families, some in their communities, some in the mirror of history.
Our Values
Volunteerism:We believe freely given time and heart are the most powerful forces for change, which is why we place volunteers at the very centre of our mission as the leaders and decision-makers driving lasting recovery.
Empathy: We meet every person exactly where they are, without judgment or condition, because we know that being truly seen and understood is where healing begins.
Integrity:We do what we say we will do with full transparency and accountability, choosing the harder right over the easier wrong every single time.
Respect: We honour the unshakeable worth of every individual by treating them with absolute dignity, valuing their lived experience and creating spaces free of labels and hierarchy.
Inclusivity: We deliberately remove barriers — of access, language, gender, ethnicity or background — so that recovery, leadership, and belonging are open to everyone, without exception.
Divesity: We draw our strength from being a gender-balanced, multidisciplinary, African-led network where a rich variety of experiences and perspectives sharpens our compassion and solutions.
Confidentiality: We guard every personal story and disclosure with unwavering privacy, because trust is sacred and no one should fear that their struggle will be exposed without their consent.
Our Strategic Operational Pillars
Our mission is being actively executed across six distinct, data-driven strategic pillars aligned with Sustainable Development Goals 3, 4, 11, 16 and 17, as well as the Zimbabwe Multisectoral Drug and Substance Abuse Plan.
Pillar 1: Proactive Prevention & Awareness
Through evidence-based behavioral fortification workshops, youth peer-led networks and localized educational and awareness campaigns, we empower schools, communities, individuals, families and institutions to build protective environments before a crisis can form.
Pillar 2: Advocacy & Policy Reforms
Advocacy and Policy is our commitment to repairing a broken system rather than simply treating its wounds.
Pillar 3: Partnerships / Stakeholder Engagement
Drug and substance abuse has evolved into a multidimensional global crisis. Driven by the principle of SDG 17, we seek to establish a robust network of stakeholders and partnerships to drive impact.
Pillar 4: Rehabilitation
Presently, NuePath does not offer on-site rehabilitation or clinical treatment services. We are actively engaging corporate sponsors, philanthropic foundations, and grantmakers to secure foundational funding to establish rehabilitation facilities. Through referral partnerships with mental health facilities and rehabilitation centres, we ensure individuals transition safely and with dignity into professional rehabilitative care they need.
Pillar 5: Research & Adaptation
Our interventions are guided by empirical data, not assumptions. We conduct area-specific needs assessments and rigorous root-cause analyses, utilizing structured monitoring and evaluation (M&E) systems to ensure our framework scales safely across borders. We equip ourselves, volunteers, donors and partners with evidence-based insights generated from research.
Pillar 6: Community Reintegration
Clinical treatment alone cannot sustain recovery if an individual returns to an environment marked by rejection, stigma and broken relationships. Recovery is not just about staying substance free.
Institutional Governance & Compliance
We are fully registered and aligned to serve as an official, auditable execution partner for international development agencies and global grant-making bodies.