For the past three years, I’ve been on a mission: to ensure that young voices are heard and actively included in policy and decision-making processes. My passion for Meaningful Youth Engagement (MYE), especially in the field of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR), drives me to advocate for gender inclusion and empower young people in my community.
My name is Yamikani Chiphazi, and I am from Malawi. As the Executive Director of Bright Minds of Today, I’m honoured to be part of the UNITED! Movement, serve as the President of the AfriYAN Malawi Chapter and serve as the Advocacy Focal Point for AfriYAN ESA.
Recently, I had the incredible opportunity to attend the Accelerated Action for the Health of Adolescents (AA-HA) Workshop in Johannesburg from October 14 to 18, 2024. This event brought together a diverse group of government officials, UN agencies, and fellow youth advocates. The workshop was an enriching experience, particularly during the "Youth Leading the Change" session, where we engaged in vital discussions about adolescent health and well-being.
During our time together, we explored significant regional and continental initiatives, including the ESA Ministerial Commitment on Education, Health, and Wellbeing, the African Union Continental Strategy, Education Plus, and AA-HA 2.0. These frameworks are designed to tackle the health and well-being challenges faced by adolescents and young people, and they seek opportunities for joint monitoring and collaboration.
One of my standout moments was Dr. Prerna Banati’s presentation on the Principles of Adolescent Health and Wellbeing Programming. Her insights resonated deeply with me, particularly her emphasis on the role of collaboration in designing and implementing effective adolescent health programs. She urged us to prioritise youth voices, underscoring that true change can only come from inclusive and impactful solutions. This call to action reminded us that our contributions are invaluable in shaping policies that affect our lives.
As part of the workshop, I had the privilege of co-chairing a youth-led session. Here, members of the UNITED! Movement shared innovative strategies for advancing adolescent health and well-being. They spoke candidly about our challenges and urged policymakers to recognise the critical role youth play in advancing SRHR and implementing the ESA Commitments.
This workshop was particularly timely for me and my country's engagement, as our country has yet to endorse the ESA Commitments. This delay has hampered efforts to legalise Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) and contributed to alarming rates of teenage pregnancies. It’s disheartening to see that progress can still be hindered by issues that only serve people's best interests. Getting people to see and understand that by protecting human rights or ensuring they have access to services moves us forward. It puts people first and not the interests of those in power. Listening to success stories from fellow advocates was not only inspiring but also provided me with practical insights for strengthening our advocacy efforts back home.
As a young leader, I will continue to advocate for those issues so that Malawi can finally endorse the ESA Commitments. My goal or my next steps involve strategically engaging with the Ministry of Education and conducting a stakeholder analysis to identify potential partnerships between AfriYAN Malawi and other implementing organisations. I hope to do this through the support of the UNITED! Movement and get the backing of other young advocates to present a united front where the health and well-being of adolescents and young people are put first.
I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to the UNITED! Movement, Y+ Global, AfriYAN, and the UN partners, including UNICEF, UNFPA, and UNAIDS East and Southern Africa Regional Offices, for their unwavering support. I am leaving this workshop with a goal and intend to achieve it.