Celebrating 2024 International Adolescent Health Week Thriving not just surviving: Building adolescents’ resilience
As we mark the 2024 International Adolescent Health Week under the theme “Thriving not just surviving: Building adolescents’ resilience” Girls Activist Youth Organisation (GAYO) proudly stands with adolescents in Malawi and beyond. This week provides an important opportunity to reflect on the health, well-being, and rights of adolescents, focusing on ensuring that young people do more than survive — they thrive.
Why Adolescent Health Matters
Adolescence is an essential stage in life, where young people experience rapid growth and development, both physically and emotionally. However, it is also a period marked by challenges such as peer pressure, mental health struggles, limited access to sexual and reproductive health services, and educational barriers. In Malawi, these challenges are often amplified by social and cultural norms that can limit access to the necessary support systems adolescents need to thrive.
At GAYO, we believe that addressing these challenges is not only a health imperative but a human rights issue. Every adolescent has the right to health, education, and empowerment. Through our projects, such as the Girls Education in the Region (GEAR) initiative and the Norad Framework Agreement 2024-2028, we are actively working to build supportive environments where adolescents can flourish.
Building Adolescents for a Thriving Future
The theme “Thriving, Not Just Surviving” emphasizes the need to move beyond simply addressing the basic needs of adolescents and instead focus on creating environments where they can excel. Thriving means ensuring access to quality education, which is a key determinant of health and well-being. At GAYO, we are committed to supporting educational initiatives that empower adolescents, particularly young girls, to continue their studies and reach their full potential. It also involves promoting sexual and reproductive health; through projects like Stream Connect, we are providing comprehensive sexual and reproductive health education to adolescents in Malawi, equipping them with the knowledge and resources necessary to make informed health decisions. Additionally, thriving includes promoting mental well-being, as adolescents face significant pressures related to school, relationships, and navigating life’s uncertainties. GAYO is dedicated to raising awareness around mental health and ensuring access to counseling services that help adolescents maintain a healthy mental state.
Our Call to Action
As we celebrate International Adolescent Health Week, GAYO urges policymakers, communities, and partners to continue prioritizing the health and well-being of adolescents. Let us work together to ensure that adolescents are not left behind but are given the tools and support to lead healthier, more empowered lives.
Let’s build a world where every adolescent thrives, not just survives!