At Y-ACT, we don’t just talk about youth-led advocacy—we embody it. This page is a vibrant archive of our pivotal gatherings, intergenerational dialogues, policy discussions, and regional engagements. Each event unites passionate youth advocates, government representatives, civil society leaders, and development partners dedicated to transforming Africa. Here, you’ll discover inspiring stories from the ground, key insights from our forums, and impactful outcomes that shape policy and community action. Whether in person or virtual, every event reflects our unwavering commitment to amplifying young voices in decision-making spaces. Join us in celebrating the powerful impact of youth-led initiatives in action.
Youth-Led Action: Launching Sierra Leone’s First Tobacco Control School Clubs
Date & Location:
Sierra Leone
Brief:
To mark World No Tobacco Day 2025, Y-ACT celebrated a significant milestone with the launch of Sierra Leone’s first-ever Tobacco Control School Clubs in Freetown. This pioneering initiative reflects our commitment to countering the tobacco industry’s targeting of young people by empowering them to lead change within their communities.
Y-ACT at WCTC
Date & Location:
Dublin, Ireland
Brief:
This June, Y-ACT proudly represented African youth voices at the World Conference on Tobacco Control (WCTC) 2025 in Dublin, Ireland. The conference, attended by over 1,300 delegates from 100 countries, marked 20 years since the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control came into force, setting a powerful backdrop for renewed global commitment to ending tobacco-related harm.
DAC 2025: African Child Rising in Sierra Leone
Date & Location:
Sierra Leone
Brief:
To commemorate the Day of the African Child 2025, Y-ACT organized African Child Rising: Youth Talks and Talent Showcase in Freetown, Sierra Leone, creating a youth-led, intergenerational platform to openly discuss sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), harmful practices, and the barriers young people face in asserting their rights. Aligned with this year’s theme, “Education for All Children in Africa:
Championing Youth Leadership at DCYDE! Austria
Date & Location:
Vienna, Austria
Brief:
This May, Y-ACT contributed to the DCYDE! Networking Event in Vienna, a key global platform shaping the future of Global Citizenship Education (GCE) through digital, inclusive, and cross-cultural collaboration. In a keynote speech and workshops co-supported by Y-ACT’s Youth Steering Committee, we shared insights from our evidence-based, youth-led advocacy model, which is driving measurable policy influence, gender equality, and SRHR outcomes across Africa.
AHAIC Youth Summit 2025
Date & Location:
Dublin, Ireland
Brief:
The AHAIC Youth Summit 2025, led by Y-ACT, was a resounding success, bringing together young leaders, policymakers, and innovators to advance youth-led health transformation across Africa.
The summit explored the role of youth leadership, power dynamics, and how young people influence health governance.
AHAIC Youth Summit 2025: Empowering Youth for Health Transformation
Date & Location:
March 2025, AHAIC 2025 (Africa Health Agenda International Conference)
Partners/Stakeholders Involved:
Brief:
The AHAIC Youth Summit 2025 was a dynamic and impactful event where young leaders, policymakers, and innovators converged to advance the agenda for youth-led health transformation in Africa.
Healing Minds, Shaping Future: Mental Health Advocacy at AHAIC 2025
Date & Location:
March 2025, AHAIC 2025 (Africa Health Agenda International Conference)
Brief:
At AHAIC 2025, Y-ACT led a powerful PoP (Point of Pride) session titled Healing Minds, Shaping Future, addressing the uncomfortable truths about African mental health. With the burden of mental health issues disproportionately affecting young people, the session called for urgent action to break the cycles of silence and stigma surrounding mental well-being.
Youth-Led Advocacy for Tobacco Control at AHAIC 2025
Date & Location:
March 2025, AHAIC 2025 (Africa Health Agenda International Conference)
Partners/Stakeholders Involved:
Y-ACT (Youth in Action)
Vital Strategies
Brief:
At the AHAIC 2025, Y-ACT, in collaboration with Vital Strategies, highlighted the critical role of youth in the fight against tobacco use in Africa.
International Day of Zero Tolerance for FGM: SpeakUP for a Future Without FGM
Date & Location:
February 6th, 2025, European Parliament- Belgium
Partners/Stakeholders Involved:
Brief:
On February 6th, 2025, we marked the International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) at the European Parliament with a powerful advocacy event under the theme SpeakUP for a Future Without FGM.
Organizational Development and Systems Strengthening (ODSS) Training for Youth Coalition Members
Date & Location:
March 2025, Freetown, Sierra Leone
Partners/Stakeholders Involved:
Brief:
Y-ACT successfully concluded a three-day capacity-building training in Freetown, Sierra Leone, focused on Organizational Development and System Strengthening (ODSS) for youth coalition members under the “Empowering Youth for Effective SRHR and Policy Advocacy” project.
Youth Power Hub Assessment: Advancing Youth-Led SRHR Advocacy Across Africa
Date & Location:
2024, Youth Power Hub Policy brief and study
Partners/Stakeholders Involved:
Brief:
In 2023, the Youth Power Hub conducted a comprehensive assessment of youth-led social accountability efforts across Africa, focusing on advancing sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR).
Want to co-host an event with Y-ACT? Get in touch with us via [email protected]