Young leaders in the Amref-supported Youth in Action (Y-ACT) movement recently launched Sierra Leone’s inaugural Tobacco Control School Clubs in Freetown.

This isn’t just any school club. The initiative empowers school students to become frontline defenders against tobacco harm in their communities. As the Big Tobacco industry entrenches itself across Africa, targeting harmful marketing messages at young people, young people are taking the lead on how to combat this harm, stand up to the messages being directed at them, and make their own voices heard with their peers and decision-makers.

Young people’s health must come before profit

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

Bitania Lulu, Y-ACT director of programmes, said: “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.”

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.

Leading the African voice on the global stage

This movement is part of a global network of changemakers. 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.

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.

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.
Winnie Olwal
Y-ACT’s Regional Programme Lead

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