In June, YLabs participated in the 2020 Health Innovation Exchange. We were thrilled to have the opportunity to share our work and our passion for the potential of youth-driven design!

The Health Innovation Exchange (HIEx) platform was launched during last year’s World Health Assembly and has since been visited by innovators, investors, and visitors from across the globe. The HIEx2020 event was a mix of thought-provoking panels, a virtual innovation marketplace, innovation pitching sessions, mentoring opportunities, and an awards ceremony to celebrate high impact innovations for global health.

Did you miss the event? Here is how YLabs was able to contribute to the conversation at HIEx2020:

CyberRwanda showcased in the Health Innovation Marketplace

Online Health Innovation Marketplace

The heart of the event was the Health Innovation Marketplace, which showcased over 30 cutting-edge innovations that have the potential to scale and create lasting impact for the UN’s Sustainable Development Goal 3: good health and well-being. “We’re so proud that CyberRwanda was showcased in the Innovation Marketplace,” said Project Director Laura Baringer. “We have come a long way as we’ve turned our big idea into a scalable innovation - and we have lots of learnings to share!” 

Find out more about CyberRwanda.

Innovation pitches:

Over 1000 people from around the world tuned in to watch our pitch and learn more about CyberRwanda! Junior Designer Mireille Sekamana presented our project work to a panel of experts, including health ministers, implementers, leading researchers, and investors. “Young people are already using technology to learn, grow, and shop,” said Sekamana in the pitch. “So why can’t we access contraception, HIV self-tests, and prevention tools like PREP on our phones? Why do we still have to wait for hours in a clinic, where we may be refused the services we need, or embarrassed by being seen by our neighbors? CyberRwanda is working in Rwanda and it can work elsewhere to meet young people where they are.” 

Check back soon for a recording of the CyberRwanda innovation pitch.

Panel: Young People’s Access to Digital Health

Against the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic, it is critical to forge new alliances with youth movements, innovators, and tech companies to scale-up digital solutions that can help stop HIV/AIDS in its tracks.

“This young generation, 1.8 billion strong, from Karachi to Kigali, is the generation that has grown up with technology,” said Executive Director Rebecca Hope. “And this trend will only continue in the coming years with increased spread and accessibility of mobile technology. We need to think beyond the clinic as the only way to deliver HIV self-testing kits, PREP, and sexual and reproductive health services, especially at this time when health services are stretched thin.”

Hope joined innovators, tech companies, youth advocates, and health experts on an all-star panel to discuss the benefits of digital technology to scale-up innovative solutions for HIV and sexual and reproductive health. We were thrilled to join the conversation and share how youth-centered design at YLabs creates a supportive ecosystem that allows young people to be at the center of designing their own solutions to local challenges.

Speakers

• Moderated by: Georgina Caswell, Head of Programs, GNP+ and Gareth Jones, Youth Coalition on SRHR

• Kamalova Dilnaz: Youth Influencer, Kazakhstan

• Rebecca Hope, Executive Director, YLabs

• Nmachi Jidenma, Strategy and Business Development, WhatsApp

• Charlotte Kirby, Vice President Global Strategic Relations, Salesforce

• Robert Kimathi, Adolescent and Youth Programs, LVCT Health

• Francisco Ramirez, Co-Founder, OkaySo

• Sergio Lopez, Empact/ Somosgay

• Laura Thuo, Program Officer Y+Kenya

Check back soon for a recording of the panel discussion.