The Tobacco Control Initiative of Y-ACT is focused on developing preventative strategies that can be put into action around the time that tobacco use first starts, which is typically in adolescence, in order to stop a tobacco epidemic from spreading. The initiative, which begins in Zambia, South Africa, and SierraLeone, will serve as the focal point for youth-led initiatives to access the critical information necessary to motivate informed advocacy and function as the resource engine for social impact through global access to the resources created within the project.
To advance youth policy priorities in tobacco control advocacy, Y-ACT will collaborate with three national youth-led organizations in the three countries and two regional youth-led organizations in Africa. Through its advocacy training curriculum and knowledge and practice of outcome harvesting, Y-ACT will also provide capacity strengthening in MEL and advocacy. Implementing countries will work with youth-led organizations for coordinated advocacy to encourage the inclusion of young people in the formulation of legislation related to the Framework Conversation on Tobacco Control (FCTC).
Y-ACT is committed to making a positive change in tobacco control policies. Our inception meetings in Zambia were pivotal moments in our journey. We had the opportunity to meet with youth organizations and policymakers who shared our vision for a tobacco-free future. The team met with 15 youth-focused organizations in Zambia. They were taken through the Y-ACT project overview and its newest initiative, youth-led advocacy on tobacco control. Young people have a powerful voice and can be effective advocates for change. Through education, awareness-raising campaigns, and community outreach, we aim to create a movement of informed and engaged youth who will drive change in their communities and beyond.
In our South Africa inception, we reached out to 15 youth organizations. We aimed to introduce Y-ACT and the youth-led Tobacco Control Project to implementing stakeholders, including youth organizations, and to map out potential youth-led organizations for the initiatives on the Tobacco Control Project. Our mission is to empower young people to lead in tobacco control advocacy. Join us in the movement to create a world where tobacco use is a thing of the past. Together, we can make a difference!
We conducted a virtual inception meeting in Sierra Leone with several youth organizations. Physically, we did capacity assessments for the youth-led organizations that applied for our recently announced grant. We also met the WHO technical specialist on tobacco control in Sierra Leone and the National Youth Commissioner to understand initiatives around tobacco control in Sierra Leone, the policy landscape, and the engagement of young people, as well as key players to engage.