Before joining the Youth Leadership Cohort (YLC) at YLabs, Yusuf was in the final year of his pharmacy studies, deeply engaged in volunteer work and participating in leadership summits, including those organized by the United Nations. Despite his active involvement in these areas, he had not yet experienced a structured program that aligned as closely with his core values of youth inspiration and leadership as the YLC did.

We sat down together for a discussion about the YLC program. Yusuf spoke passionately about his experiences, the program's structure, and its impact on his personal and professional development. Our conversation provided valuable insights into the YLC's approach to empowering young leaders and the profound effect it had on him. Below is the full transcript of our conversation, lightly edited for clarity.

Why did you join the YLC and how has your experience been so far? 

I joined because I deeply believe that young people have the power to change the world. I've always felt that with the right skills, resources, and mentorship, youth are ideally positioned to address global issues. So, what really drew me to YLC was seeing how YLabs intentionally engages young people in every aspect of their work, from designing and implementing services to evaluating programs. This approach of 'for youth, by youth' resonated a lot with me. And my time here has been incredibly fulfiling.

I had certain expectations when I joined, but they were certainly exceeded. I was exposed to various fields, including human-centered design, branding, communications, project design, and leadership, all part of a well-rounded curriculum. The highlight for me was the opportunity to work on meaningful projects alongside my peers. This experience allowed me to apply the principles I learned in a practical setting, which was both enlightening and rewarding.

What is one project you enjoyed working on and why?

It’s definitely the Future of Sex Education. The project aims to reimagine sex education, moving away from traditional approaches. I grew up in Nigeria, never received formal sex education in school, and would have to look for information on the internet. So, there is this need for a youth-led approach in designing sex education that truly works for young people. It was really a brilliant initiative that I loved being part of, and I'm excited about the results. We did that, but what’s coming next is even more exciting. We're working towards developing a digital curriculum that reflects these new ideas and I'm looking forward to seeing its impact.

A standout moment for me was the global convening, where we presented the project to over 30 partners and stakeholders worldwide. I had the honor of being the master of ceremonies, which was both nerve-wracking and exciting. The YLabs team supported me immensely, and we conducted several mock sessions to ensure everything went smoothly. Beyond the convening, I was also invited to contribute to the manuscript writing for the project, which is really a testament to how YLabs empowers young people like me to be at the forefront of impactful projects and serve as voices for youth globally.

What are your plans for the future, and how has the YLC prepared you for that?

I'm truly excited about the future, though I'm still shaping my exact path. But the YLC has given me invaluable experiences and taught me that there are no limits to what I can achieve. For instance, after learning about human-centered design at YLC, I've applied these principles to my passion for public health. I've developed a platform to increase access to HIV prevention medications and even presented this project at an international public health conference in Africa.

Looking ahead, my vision is to be more than just a researcher or a writer of papers. I want to implement the research and ideas into practical, accessible healthcare services, especially in Africa. My goal is to become an implementation researcher and a scientist who uses human-centered design to create programs that truly meet people's needs. I see myself working with development organizations or as a consultant, helping to turn theoretical frameworks into real-world solutions through engagement and co-creation. This is the impact I aim to make in the coming years. 

Why is financial support crucial for programs like the YLC? 

Well, this kind of backing means we can create more platforms where young people like myself can actively participate in decision-making processes across various sectors. Young people bring innovative ideas and unique perspectives, and it's crucial that we're not just subjects of discussion but active participants in these conversations.

So, financial support enables programs like YLC to shape the future of projects globally, both now and in the future. With it, it becomes possible to develop more solutions to address global challenges and foster greater collaboration with other organizations worldwide. This support makes it possible for our voices and ideas to be heard. And the YLC supports and builds you as a leader. 

Will you support the YLC 2024? Your contribution, whether it's $5 or $500, plays a crucial role in helping us achieve our objective and empowers these outstanding young leaders to create a meaningful impact through digital innovation.

Interested in learning more about YLabs’ work to help youth lead the way? Check out our projects!