The Safeguard Young People (SYP) Programme is a transformative initiative that was launched in 2013 for Southern African nations: namely Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Namibia, South Africa, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. Tanzania officially launched the flagship programme in April 2022. At its core, SYP is dedicated to nurturing the health and well-being of adolescents and young individuals aged 10-24 years.

In Tanzania, the SYP Programme focuses on regions fighting with distressing indicators in adolescent sexual reproductive health and rights, including oncerns such as adolescent pregnancy, HIV, child marriage, and gender-based inequalities. The overall goal of the programme is to contribute to Tanzania’s efforts in improving the health and wellbeing of adolescents and young people. The SYP Programmeme has a governance and management architecture agreed upon with the Government of Switzerland which is cofunding this programme with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). Within the pages of this 3rd edition newsletter you will dive into the diverse voices of youth from the regions of Dar es Salaam, Coast, Kigoma, and Shinyanga. These stories demonstrate the impact of activities held under the SYP Programmeme, detailing their experiences related to sexual reproductive health and rights, entrepreneurship, leadership, gender-based violence, and harmful practices.

The SYP Programmeme is a catalyst for positive change, fostering awareness and advocacy through engaging dialogues that champion investment in the youth. Thanks to these efforts, young individuals now have access to Comprehensive Sexuality Education and Social Behaviour Change Communication, empowering them to make informed decisions about their lives. We hope you will enjoy reading and witness the remarkable journey of youth champions who have influenced and inspired their communities, becoming beacons of change in the process. We invite you to embark on this inspiring journey and celebrate the enthusiasm of young people striving to create a better, healthier world for themselves and those around them. Together, let us embrace the vision of the SYP Programmeme and ensure that every young person’s potential is fulfilled.