Building Healthier Futures with Youth
Young people represent a significant proportion of the population and their experiences and perspectives are essential to creating effective health interventions.
At YLabs, we believe in putting youth at the forefront of conversations about their futures. In honor of this week and World Health Day, we asked our team why the world needs more youth in public health. Read what they had to say!
Accurate, Relevant Representation
“We need more youth to be involved in health because then youth are represented by people who have lived through the same experiences they are going through.”
This is especially important because youth are more likely to face unique challenges when it comes to their health, such as mental health issues, substance abuse, and sexual and reproductive health needs.
Building Solutions Together
“By involving [youth] in the decision-making process, we can ensure that their needs and concerns are addressed and that interventions are tailored to their specific needs.”
This means actively engaging them in decision-making processes, listening to their voices, and valuing their opinions. It means providing opportunities for young people to participate in the development and implementation of policies and programs that affect them. It is empowering them to take an active role in shaping their communities and their futures.
Youth involvement means that young people are at the front and center of everything that involves and affects their futures, however big or small.
Leaders of Tomorrow
By providing young people with the tools and resources they need to become advocates for their health, we can help them develop the confidence and skills to become leaders in their communities.
“Engaging youth in health can also help to build their leadership and advocacy skills, promoting their participation in other areas of civic life.”
Youth involvement is crucial to creating effective health policies and programs that meet the unique needs of young people. It is not enough to only consider their needs and concerns; we must actively involve them in decision-making processes and empower them to take an active role in shaping their futures.
As we celebrate Public Health Week, let us recognize the importance of youth involvement in health and commit to creating more opportunities for young people to be involved in shaping their communities and their futures.
Interested in learning more about YLabs’ work to help youth lead the way on health? Check out our health projects!
