By Tamisayi Chinhengo
Stepping into the Kigali Conference Centre, I was immediately buoyed by a buzzing sense of urgency and a heightened sense of excitement that can only be brought by the boundless energy of thousands of young people in one room.
The YouthConnekt Africa (YCA) Summit held in Kigali, Rwanda, was a glimpse into Africa’s future. A future defined by the vitality of its youth, their excitement about the future, ideas in making a difference, and ambition for a better continent. Underneath the buzz, one story echoed in my mind long after the applause and cheers faded: the story of Gisele.
Hon. Dr. Utumatwishima Jean Nepo Abdallah, Rwanda’s Minister of Youth, shared Gisele’s story. Just 17 and five months pregnant, she came to him in desperation, asking for guidance and what to do and where to go. His haunting question lingers with me: What job, what hope, what future is there for Gisele? What bothers me - that question is still asked by countless young people across the continent.
For years, I’ve worked with UNFPA to raise the voices of young people and ensure they have the tools they need to thrive. I’ve met countless young women like Gisele—dreamers whose aspirations were derailed by unplanned pregnancies or trapped in cycles of poverty, poor health, and limited opportunity. These stories fuel my passion. They’re why I show up, day after day, to advocate for a world where every young person’s potential can be tapped.
To prevent stories like Gisele’s from becoming the norm, we must act—decisively and collectively. Young people have the right to access information and services to make informed decisions about their bodies and futures. Some of these are accessing comprehensive sexuality education, and youth-friendly sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services within adolescent-responsive health systems. And one of the most critical ones, the capacity to get mental health support.
A brighter continent
At the YCA Summit, the high-level plenary on mental health and SRHR drove home the urgency of mental health interventions in youth programming. Under the theme “Thrive Together: Elevating Youth Health and Well-being for a Brighter Africa,” young advocates and policymakers engaged in a dialogue. Challenging and inspiring at the same time, the discussions revealed the worrying realities – how teenage pregnancy and mental health struggles can sink young women’s futures and shrink their prospects. However, there is rising hope.
There are powerful solutions—low-tech innovations delivering life-saving SRHR information to rural youth in Malawi, the impact of mentor mothers supporting pregnant adolescents, and the economic and social benefits of prioritizing youth health.
These are the types of solutions that have the power to transform lives. The Safeguard Young People Programme, co-funded by the Governments of Switzerland and The Netherlands, enables UNFPA to put these solutions into action. We have initiatives equipping young people with the knowledge and skills to avoid sexually-transmitted infections, unintended pregnancies, and gender-based violence. We also address mental health issues, acknowledging that true well-being requires a holistic approach.
A seat at the table for young people
After the event, I felt inspired with an elevated sense of purpose. I realized that Africa’s youth are not waiting for permission to lead—they’re demanding a seat at the table, bringing their creativity and energy to tackle some of the continent’s most pressing challenges. They don’t just hold the promise of a brighter future; they are the future.
But they can’t do it alone. I am reminded of a quote from our region, "Our children may learn about the heroes of the past. Our task is to make ourselves architects of the future.” We have the power—policymakers, donors, civil society, and citizens—to invest in their health and well-being, champion their rights, and give them their seats at the table. As the adults in the global room, this is our collective responsibility.
We have the moral obligation to ensure that no young person is left behind.
Gisele is just one of the many characters in the stories that are repeated across the world. We need to ensure that she gets to the place she needs and wants to be. We have the moral obligation to ensure that no young person is left behind. I can imagine an Africa where every young person has access to education, health services, and economic opportunities. This is the Africa I want, the Africa we want - where dreams aren’t muffled by circumstance but vented by possibility.
This is the Africa we can build—together. I invite you to join this movement. Advocate for youth-friendly policies in your community. Support organizations like UNFPA. Engage with young people and listen to their ideas. Because when Africa’s youth thrive, the continent flourishes.
The next chapter of Africa’s story is being written now. Let’s make it one of joy, optimism, and opportunity for all.
