As the Youth Community Advocacy Project (Y-CAP) comes to an end, we celebrate a remarkable journey of empowering adolescents and young people to advocate for their health while strengthening access to quality Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) services. Implemented in partnership with the Ministry of Health and District Health Offices, the project has demonstrated that meaningful youth engagement can drive lasting improvements in health systems and community wellbeing.

Throughout implementation, Y-CAP contributed to a measurable reduction in unsafe abortions and increased contraceptive uptake by bridging the gap between legal rights, community awareness, and access to quality clinical services. A key milestone was the successful implementation of Community-Led Monitoring (CLM), which transformed youth voices into evidence for advocacy. By using youth-generated data, the project shifted discussions from anecdotal experiences to evidence-based advocacy, influencing improvements in service delivery at both district and national levels.

The project also strengthened the relationship between young people and healthcare providers through Facility Interface Meetings, creating safe spaces for dialogue and accountability. Their success has been so significant that several facilities, particularly in Kasama District, have institutionalized these meetings and continue to convene them independently beyond project funding an important testament to sustainability and local ownership.

Y-CAP successfully expanded access to youth-friendly SRH services through Weekend Clinics, Interactive Sessions, and the introduction of service provision within Youth-Friendly Spaces. The project further improved access to Comprehensive Abortion Care (CAC) commodities, strengthened referral pathways, and enhanced healthcare provider attitudes through facility-based orientations that promoted respectful, confidential, and youth-responsive services.

One of the project's standout interventions was the Girls Vibe Sessions, which created safe spaces for adolescent girls and young women to discuss contraception, menstrual health, gender-based violence, and reproductive health. These sessions empowered participants, strengthened peer support, and increased referrals to youth-friendly health services. Complementing these efforts, the Be Safe Campaign reached 241,451 people, using digital platforms to increase awareness of contraceptives, Comprehensive Abortion Care, and Sexual and Reproductive Health while addressing stigma and misinformation.

Y-CAP also championed inclusive healthcare by training healthcare workers and community volunteers in Basic Sign Language, improving communication with clients with hearing impairments, and enhancing facility signage and accessibility for persons with disabilities.

Beyond service delivery, the project fostered stronger collaboration between District Health Offices, health facilities, policymakers, community leaders, and young people through Technical Working Groups, Round Table Meetings, and Interface Dialogues. These platforms amplified youth voices and strengthened accountability for improved health services.

As Y-CAP concludes, it leaves behind empowered young advocates, stronger health systems, institutionalized community engagement platforms, and sustainable partnerships that will continue advancing adolescent and youth Sexual and Reproductive Health. While the project phase is ending, its legacy lives on through the young leaders, health workers, and communities committed to ensuring that every young person has access to quality, inclusive, and youth-friendly health services