Yvonne Mbewe

Graduate Assistant, Human Rights Close to Home

Yvonne Mbewe, LCSW originally from Lusaka, Zambia, has spent her career delving into childhood trauma and multisystemic interventions to trauma and abuse. Currently, her research assesses human trafficking legislation and social service implementation for trafficked child laborers in Zambia. Yvonne’s research questions are designed to uncover insights into the efficacy of implemented strategies, unintended consequences, and recommendations for enhancing the future outcomes of trafficked children.

 Yvonne’s desire to be a catalyst for social change was influenced by her work as an advocate for youth engaged with the juvenile detention system and children victimized by sexual human trafficking. These transformative experiences culminated in Yvonne’s completion of a Masters in Social Work at New York University. Yvonne has worked globally and on a domestic level with immigrants/refugees impacted by HIV/AIDS, undomiciled substance users, financial and educational empowerment of women, and managing the social emotional learning needs of students and families in multiple New York City public schools. Yvonne currently serves as an Adjunct Lecturer with Columbia University’s School of Social Work.