Young people are the future of our communities, our cities, our countries, and our planet. Yet, despite improvements in quality of life, youth face pressing challenges to their health and opportunity that limit their potential.

YLabs is excited to launch our Futures Lab, a global initiative that will equip and support young people to generate innovations that respond to their current and future needs. Over the next five years, we will surface key areas for innovation to respond to the most promising opportunities that will yield transformative impact, with and for youth, globally. Over the next five years, we’re seeking to engage 5 million youth with digital products and services that improve their health, resilience, and wellbeing.

In 2023, we are announcing the launch of two focus areas for the Futures Lab:

1. Technology-Powered Action for Climate Resilience

2. Harnessing Emerging Technologies Ethically for Youth Access to Healthcare

Technology-Powered Action for Climate Resilience

Climate change impacts livelihoods, limits access to education and healthcare, and results in forced displacement and migration, all of which have immediate and lifelong consequences for generations to come. Women and girls in low-to-middle income countries are most acutely impacted by climate change; exacerbating preexisting health disparities and gender inequalities which limit their ability to adapt to and recover from climate change impacts. For these reasons, climate change is amongst the most pressing concerns among young people worldwide. A 2021 global study of 10,000 youth revealed that 60% of youth are extremely concerned about climate change. The time to take action is now.

The Futures Lab was launched with the intention of bringing sustained value with and for young against the backdrop of a changing climate. It amplifies the power and agency of young people to enhance climate resilience within their communities. It will build on YLabs’ work equipping and supporting young leaders in Ghana, South Africa, Nigeria and Kenya, through our Cities, Children and Climate Action Lab and Cityzens for Clean Air initiatives.

Example Initiatives:

• Digital entrepreneurship training to support sustainable and green youth livelihoods in climate-fragile economies

• Climate-resilient digital health products and services to continue care for young people on the move in climate-impacted areas

• Youth–generated climate data collection to inform local and regional climate resilience strategies tailored to the communities impacted

Harnessing Emerging Technologies Ethically for Youth Access to Healthcare

Access to technology, including the use of  social media, is exploding among young people globally. Emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence are generating excitement about their potential for health information and delivery. Young people, as online influencers, have remarkable reach delivering peer-to-peer content, which can be leveraged for health impact. These innovations offer youth, as early adopters of technology, privacy and ease in accessing healthcare information and linkage to care. Yet, without thoughtful design with youth, there are potential risks associated with digital solutions to equity, safeguarding, and quality of information and care. In this Futures Lab, we’ll explore how high-tech, low-tech, and emerging technologies can be ethically and equitably applied to reach all youth with integrated, youth-driven information and access to quality healthcare. This builds on YLabs extensive experience co-designing and scaling inclusive digital health platforms to reach youth most in need, such as our USAID-funded CyberRwanda initiative and our AskDoki chatbot in Kenya. 

Example Initiatives

• Exploring the risks and opportunities of leveraging artificial intelligence for youth health and wellness

Engaging and equipping micro-influencers to deliver accurate digital peer-to-peer education and services

• Developing digital one-stop shop for mental and reproductive healthcare incorporating low-tech tools to reach rural and migrant youth

• Generating safeguarding guidance for AI-supported youth health interventions

Become a Partner

We are seeking investment and implementation partners for the Futures Lab to support us to generate and test new approaches to advance young people’s health and opportunity. 

If you’d like to partner with us on this initiative, please connect with our team at contact@ylabsglobal.org

If you’re ready to see these ideas come to life, donate today and become a part of Futures Lab!