International Youth Day is marked every year on 12 August to raise the profile of youth issues and celebrate young people’s contributions to society. This International Youth Day, the WHO Regional Office for Europe is celebrating the young changemakers of its Youth4Health network who are reshaping public health for their generation. From Portugal to Kyrgyzstan, they are speaking out on issues that matter most to them: mental health, sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), the impact of climate change and its threat to human health, and many more.
- Inês Mália Sarmento, a mental health and disability activist from Portugal, champions improved mental health services and meaningful youth participation in decision-making.
- Yevheniia Usychenko, former peer counsellor from Ukraine and now the Deputy Director of the youth-led movement Teenergizer, supports young people across 4 countries with credible information on mental and sexual and reproductive health, addressing crucial gaps in youth health education and support.
- Austėja Sakalauskaitė, a medical student from Lithuania, focuses on the urgent intersection of climate change and health, advocating for a more sustainable and healthy future.
- Uluk Batyrgaliev, an SRHR activist from Kyrgyzstan, works to break cultural barriers and normalize open conversations about sexuality and gender-based violence, whilst nurturing a new generation of leaders in the Region.
- Arjola Brahimi, a medical student and member of the Y-Peer network from Albania, dispels myths around SRHR and challenges adults to come up with new approaches for delivering critical information on these issues.
- Luka Delak, Uzay Macar, Kathleen Guan and other Youth4Health network members also contributed to this year’s social media campaign, highlighting the messages young people would send to health decision-makers from the Region.