Youth Driving Global Health: New Paths in Education, Research, and Leadership

Young people now make up the biggest generation in history, yet many health systems ignore their needs. In Africa, almost 60 percent of residents are under 25, and the number is expected to climb toward one billion by 2050. The 2025 Global Health Focus Youth Conference gathered in Kigali, Rwanda, to share ideas and combine them with recent scientific studies. The meeting highlighted how youth are helping to close gaps in three key areas: learning, investigation, and leading change.

In the classroom, participants pushed for required courses that focus on fairness and local contexts. They asked for stronger mentorship programs that connect students with experienced professionals. Scholarships were also urged to make it easier for learners from low‑and middle‑income nations to study. Research shows that funding and author credit are still skewed toward high‑income regions, but new seed grants and programs led by scientists from the Global South are beginning to shift the balance. More local researchers now appear as first or last authors on important papers. The group also stressed that fair partnerships, backed by funder rules and journal standards, are essential to untangle colonial legacies in science. Youth have launched innovative projects and campaigns that shape policies at both national and international levels.

To move forward, universities should build permanent mentorship structures and set aside money for youth‑led studies. Funders need to create dedicated grant streams that prioritize ideas from young scholars in every region. Policymakers are encouraged to reserve seats for young voices in governing boards and advisory groups. If these steps are taken, young people will stop being occasional advisors and become core designers of lasting, locally‑relevant health solutions.

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