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. At the conference, Y-ACT showcased how young people across Africa drive policy change and lead community-level action to counter the tobacco industry’s tactics.
Through participation in technical sessions, youth forums, and high-level plenaries, Y-ACT amplified the urgency of centering youth as co-architects of sustainable health systems. A highlight was the closing session, where Y-ACT’s Regional Program Lead, Winnie Olwal, delivered a powerful call to action, urging governments to adopt enforceable tobacco control measures and to recognize youth leadership as central to building healthier futures. Her words captured the spirit of the conference:
“We are not the next generation but the NOW generation.”
“We are not the next generation but the NOW generation.”
Throughout the three days, Y-ACT joined global partners in shaping conversations on effective policy implementation, innovative advocacy approaches, and the critical role of youth in driving accountability. The delegation engaged in strategic sessions on budget advocacy for tobacco control, cross-sectoral partnerships, and youth-led campaigns from Kenya, Burkina Faso, Mauritius, and Sierra Leone, sharing practical tools for amplifying youth voices in policy spaces. Our participation at WCTC 2025 reinforced Y-ACT and Amref’s commitment to empowering young people to lead in building a tobacco-free Africa, ensuring they are not only beneficiaries of health systems but active drivers of change. This global platform enabled cross-regional learning, expanded partnerships, and positioned African youth leadership as a cornerstone in the worldwide tobacco control movement.