YLabs

Youth were already underfunded—then USAID froze. In all the chaos since, one voice has been notably missing: young people. So we sat down with youth leaders from Nigeria and Rwanda, including Dr. Ibrahim Bello, M.D and Alice N. Mukashyaka, who've been navigating chronically underfunded systems for years. Our main takeaway? In a world of uncertainty, betting on youth is the smartest strategy in the room. ?? Swipe or click to hear more about how youth are rewriting the funding narrative:?https://lnkd.in/dY8_FN_B

?????? ??????????! ?? We are hiring a ???????? ???????????????? ???????????????????? ???????????????????? to spearhead impactful research and innovation projects. If you’re passionate about youth-driven design, digital solutions, and creating measurable impact in youth entrepreneurship and financial inclusion, this is for you! ?? This role is ideally based in Kigali, Rwanda, but flexible location in East Africa and surrounding regions if willing to travel 50% of the time. ?? Apply here: https://lnkd.in/dG5qMaVt

The internet is full of information—until you search for something they don’t want you to find. Mashable just covered how social media platforms are quietly suppressing abortion resources, making it harder for young people to access the information they need. But censorship doesn’t erase the need. It just pushes people to find new ways to get answers. That’s why alternative platforms matter. When the go-to channels fail, independent projects built with young people—by those who actually listen—step in to fill the gap. One of those featured in this piece? Asking for a Friend. You’ll see why. ?? Read the full story here:https://lnkd.in/dzB-kWtW #ReproductiveJustice #SexEd #AskingForAFriend #YLabs

Sexual health is personal. It’s messy. It’s full of questions that rarely have easy answers. But what if young people had a space to ask those questions—without fear, shame, or stigma–and be connected to health services? Her Campus Media did a feature on ???????????? ?????? ?? ???????????? — a platform we built with young people, for young people in California, to bridge this glaring gap. Check out the full article here: https://lnkd.in/dxPwP4P7 #HerCampus #SexEd

The SRHR-Climate Hub has arrived - bringing you evidence-based tools, success stories, and practical resources to strengthen your climate, health, and gender work. Join us next week to be among the first to explore this game-changing resource. From community solutions to policy frameworks, we're putting everything you need to take action in one place. Here’s why you should join the webinar: ? Evidence-based resources ? Practical solutions for real challenges ? A chance to connect and learn ?? Tuesday, January 28 ?? 9:30 AM EST | 4:30 PM CAT Secure your spot today! Register here: https://lnkd.in/dQ4gV-w9 #ClimateJustice #SRHR #Innovation

2024 has been a whirlwind—equal parts challenging, exciting, and so rewarding. It’s one of those years where you look back and think, “Wow, we really did that.” From scaling projects across borders to earning global recognition, this year was all about pushing boundaries and showing up for young people in meaningful and powerful ways. Here’s what stood out: ?? ?????????????? ??????????????????????: After two years of piloting in 40 schools, we scaled the platform nationwide, reaching 50,000+ users—and our groundbreaking 2-year randomized control trial on teenage sexual health, was featured in Nature. Truly a pinch-me moment! ?? ?????????????????????? ?????????????? ?????? ???????? ???????????? ???????????? ?????????? ?????? ???????? ?????????????? ????????????????????:?A massive win for us (and, yes, the trophy is VERY shiny). ??????? ???????????????? ???????????? ?????? ?? ????????????: Inspired by CyberRwanda, this sexual wellness platform is co-created with young people in the U.S., starting in California. ?? ???????????????? ?????? ?????????????? ???????????? ?? ???????? ???????????????? ?????? ???????????? ??????: Our research found ZERO countries include voluntary rights-based continuous contraceptive access as part of their climate adaptation approach. So, we did a lot of research and built tools to help turn that around. ?? ???????????? ?????? ???????????? ??????????????:?In 2025, we’ll be partnering with EngenderHealth and USAID to expand family planning and reproductive health solutions globally. ? And the cherry on top? We welcomed Chinwe Effiong as our new CEO! None of this would have been possible without the incredible people we work with—our team, partners, local communities, and, most importantly, young people. Thank you for being part of this journey. Here’s to 2025 and all the big dreams waiting to be tackled.??

On December 5th, 2024, Dr. Ibrahim Bello, M.D, a YLabs Youth Leadership Cohort member, received the ???????? ?????????? ?????????? for his incredible work on Hope for HER. This project helps women and girls in Gombe, Nigeria, build healthier, better lives. Dr. Ibrahim has also led leadership training for medical students, advocacy programs on sexual and reproductive health, and distributed over 50,000 HIV test kits and contraceptives. He believes education and support are key to change, working toward a world where women and girls can make informed decisions about their health. The Diana Award is the only charity set up in memory of Diana, The Princess of Wales. It recognizes outstanding young people from across the globe working to create and sustain positive social change. Congratulations, Dr. Ibrahim! ?? #DianaAward #HopeForHER #YouthLeadership #YLabs

How do we tackle the hidden impacts of the climate crisis on sexual and reproductive health? From rising miscarriage rates during heat waves to the alarming increase in gender-based violence after disasters, the stakes are high for women and girls. This Friday, YLabs’?Emily Worrall?will moderate a panel at the????????????? ?????????????? ???????????? ???????????in Nairobi, bringing together brilliant minds including Pulkit Aggrwal from?Grand Challenges Canada,?Millicent Olulo Orera from PharmAccess , and Jay Patel from Jacaranda Health. Together we will discuss practical digital solutions being implemented to address the nexus of health, gender, and sexual and reproductive?health. If you’re at GDHF, don’t miss this important conversation?happening Friday. #GDHF2024 #ClimateAndHealth #ReproductiveHealth

As we reflect on #WorldAIDSDay, Young MSM are teaching us invaluable lessons about breaking barriers in HIV prevention. Here’s what we’ve learned: ? 1?? Building trust through peer networks creates safe spaces for testing and care. 2???Framing testing as a celebration, not a task, reduces stigma. 3?? Meeting young people online with tailored content bridges gaps in access. ? ?? Want to dive deeper? Read the full blog here: https://lnkd.in/dHwP_X_e

Beneath the surface of conversations about sexual and reproductive health and rights lies a quieter story:??? When it comes to sexual health, young Americans are caught between a sea of information overload and access deserts. While policymakers debate, teens are piecing together answers to critical sexual health questions from TikTok, Reddit and each other. And as state-by-state differences grow, some youth face up to 11x worse health outcomes than others. That’s why we created Asking for a Friend—because access to trusted health resources shouldn’t depend on where you live, who you are, or whether you have someone to ask. #YouthHealth #HealthEquity #DigitalHealth