About Vee
Dr. Varaidzo Kativhu, known as Dr. Vee, is a global authority on girls' education, education policy, and youth empowerment.
Her journey began in Zimbabwe before her family moved to the UK when she was seven. Working at McDonald's while studying, she was told by a teacher she'd never get into Oxford. She got in, becoming the first Black woman to graduate from Oxford's LMH Foundation Year programme, and then went to Harvard, where she earned a Master's in International Education Policy. In 2024, she made history as the youngest person ever to receive an honorary doctorate from the University of Bradford. She is completing her PhD in Education Leadership at Claremont Graduate University.
Rather than simply celebrating her own success, Dr. Kativhu has spent the last seven years opening the same doors for others. She is the Founder and Director of Empowered By Vee, a UK-registered charity widening access to higher education for underrepresented students globally. EBV has raised over £15,000 for girls' education in Zimbabwe and India, currently supports 15 EBV Scholars (girls attending school in Zimbabwe because of the charity's work), served over 100 girls in India with period products to combat dropout rates and period poverty, and delivered workshops in Zambia addressing period shaming. The charity's network has reached over 28,000 young people worldwide.
OXFORD - 2016-2020
First Black woman to graduate from LMH Foundation Year. BA in Classical Archaeology & Ancient History. Founded Empowered By Vee (2018). Began building platform to help underrepresented students.
HARVARD - 2020-2021
Master's in International Education Policy. Diana Legacy Award from Prince William & Prince Harry. Published "EMPOWERED" with Penguin.
UN APPOINTMENT - 2022
BBC 100 Women alongside Michelle Obama. Co-hosted Diana Awards with Prince Harry. Began PhD at Claremont Graduate University.
GLOBAL RECOGNITION - 2023
Appointed UN Young Leader for the SDGs. GPE Youth Leader. Born This Way Foundation Advisory Board. Oxford Vice-Chancellor's Diversity Champion Award.
MAKING HISTORY - 2024
Youngest Honorary Doctorate recipient, University of Bradford. British Vogue Force for Change. Interview with UN Secretary-General. Net-A-Porter Incredible Women. UK Prime Minister's Points of Light Award.
POLICY LEADERSHIP - 2025
Hosted UNESCO's 14th Youth Forum in Uzbekistan. Gates Foundation Global Creative Council Member. UNICEF Youth Advisor. Malcolm X & Dr. Betty Shabazz Vanguard Award. GPE "Back to School with Vee" series launch.
DR.KATIVHU - 2026
PhD completion. The University Experience Project launch. Global authority on girls' education and education policy.
Behind the Vision
Today, Dr. Kativhu operates at the intersection of research, policy, and advocacy. She serves as a UN Young Leader for the Sustainable Development Goals, advises UNICEF's Office of Innovation, sits on the Global Partnership for Education Youth Advisory, and is a member of the Gates Foundation Global Creative Council. She has hosted UNESCO's 14th Youth Forum in Uzbekistan, interviewed UN Secretary-General António Guterres, and co-hosted the Diana Awards alongside Prince Harry.
Her work has been recognised globally: BBC 100 Women (2023) alongside Michelle Obama, British Vogue Force for Change (2024) nominated by Yara Shahidi, the Diana Legacy Award from Prince William and Prince Harry, the UK Prime Minister's Points of Light Award, and the Malcolm X & Dr. Betty Shabazz Vanguard Award for contributions to educational justice and equity (2025). Oxford's Vice-Chancellor named her a Diversity Champion.
Prince William has said of her: "I wish there'd been someone like you around when I was growing up, Vee."
Dr. Kativhu is committed to reducing the 130 million girls currently out of school, not just through inspiration, but through research, policy change, and building the infrastructure for a more equitable education system.