Youth Leading the Charge: From Freetown to Dublin, a Movement for Tobacco-Free Futures Gains Ground

As the tobacco industry continues to target Africa’s youth with strategic and harmful marketing, young advocates across the continent are stepping up, not as victims, but as vanguards of change.

In a historic first, Y-ACT | Youth in Action launched Sierra Leone’s inaugural Tobacco Control School Clubs in Freetown to mark World No Tobacco Day 2025. This bold initiative empowers students to become frontline defenders against tobacco harm in their communities. Through a two-day training supported by Y-ACT and partners, young leaders were equipped with the knowledge, confidence, and tools to raise awareness, mobilise their peers, and hold decision-makers accountable.

Their message was clear: Young people’s health must come before profit.

“This is not just another school club, but a movement powered by young people who are ready to lead and shape outcomes for healthier communities. At Amref, we believe in building capacities of young leaders and creating platforms where youth can meaningfully influence decisions. What we’re witnessing in Sierra Leone is the future of public health advocacy in Africa.” Bitania Lulu, the Director, Y-ACT.

At the launch, students collectively called on the President of Sierra Leone to appoint the Tobacco Control Council Chairperson and fully implement the Tobacco and Nicotine Control Act, demanding stronger enforcement of policies that protect their generation from addiction and disease.

But the movement didn’t stop at national borders.

In June 2025, Y-ACT proudly represented the African youth voice at the World Conference on Tobacco Control (WCTC)in Dublin, Ireland, which commemorated 20 years since the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control came into force. The gathering brought together over 1,300 delegates from 100 countries, setting the stage for bold new commitments to end tobacco-related harm.

Y-ACT’s team participated in technical sessions, youth forums, and global panels, amplifying how youth across Africa are not only demanding policy change, but leading it. From influencing legislation to launching community-led action, their presence underscored one truth: real change happens when youth are not just consulted, but co-leading.

During the closing plenary, Winnie Olwal, Y-ACT’s Regional Programme Lead, delivered a stirring message to global leaders:

“As young people, we are not waiting for our turn; we are already designing, leading, and driving tobacco control efforts. To secure a tobacco-free future, youth leadership must be formally embedded in every policy and decision-making.”

Through school clubs, global advocacy, and bold leadership, Y-ACT is building a movement where youth are shaping tobacco-free futures, today.