The Problem Younger
adolescents and young adults (AYA) aged 14 – 17 years face several health
issues that affect more than their physical wellbeing, which means their mental, social, behavioral health is at risk.
Despite the many health initiatives for young people, these traditional interventions that focus on specific diseases
and often does not involve young people as partners may not effectively address the needs of this group. We need new,
youth-inspired strategies to bridge this health and wellness gap for young people and for AYA health research.
Our Mission We believe that young people are powerful leaders in creating solutions for a
healthier Ghana. We are calling on youth and their community allies to share fresh ideas and lived experiences to design
new ways of promoting HIVST, PrEP, and HIV prevention services that truly work for youth. Your voice, creativity, and
leadership can inspire action and create change. Together, we can build a future where youth-friendly HIV prevention
services are accessible to all.
Our Process We will work alongside youth and communities in three exciting stages:
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Nationwide Open Call (May 1 – June 6, 2025)
Share your creative ideas through essays, poems, videos, art,
stories, skits, songs, infographics, or letters on how to promote HIV self-testing and HIV prevention among
young people in Ghana.
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HIV Innovation Sprint (Designathon) (July 3–5, 2025)
Selected teams will attend a 3-day hands-on sprint where
they will turn their ideas into real-world prototypes with the support of experts, designers, and mentors.
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Youth Bootcamp (July 21 – August 2, 2025)
Finalists will attend a 2-week bootcamp to refine and implement their
ideas with support from public health experts and community mentors, bringing their visions to life in their
communities.
The Solution We are calling on all young people (ages 15–24) across Ghana to submit their bold
and creative ideas on how to promote HIVST and HIV prevention services.
You can enter individually or as a team of up to
four people, and we strongly encourage collaboration with a certified community-based organization (CBO).
Your submission could answer questions like:
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How can we encourage more youth to use HIV self-testing and prevention services?
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How can we fight stigma around HIV so more young people feel safe to get tested and access care?
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How should HIV prevention strategies be designed to truly meet the needs of young people?
GUIDELINES FOR CONTRIBUTIONS
Eligibility:
Anyone can submit ideas to the Open Call, but we are particularly interested in submissions from young people (ages
15–24) and their CBO partners. We welcome individual entries as well as team submissions (up to four people per team)
and strongly encourage partnerships between youth and local CBOs committed to advancing youth health.
Judging:
Applications will be reviewed by the Y-FIT GH team and affiliated partners. Up to 8 of the most promising teams of youth
innovators will be selected to participate in the Innovation Sprint (Designathon). Judging criteria will include the
following:
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A clear description of the creative idea.
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Desirability of the idea for youth and communities.
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Innovation and creativity of the approach.
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Feasibility of the idea to promote HIV self-testing (HIVST) and other youth-friendly HIV prevention services in
Ghana.
All entries will be judged anonymously. No identifying information will be included on any essay, story, video, poem,
artwork, letter, or submission during the review process.
Format of your submission:
There is no required structure for your submission, whether you choose to submit a 500-word essay, video, audio file,
poem, letter, story, artwork, or infographic. However, we encourage you to think through your idea using the following
guiding questions:
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What are messages, slogans, or ideas to promote HIVST and PrEP among youth (15-24)?
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What are creative ways to reach youth in remote areas or who have limited internet access?
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How can we address HIV stigma to promote HIV prevention in the Ghanaian context?
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How can we make HIV prevention services easier for young people to find, use, and trust?
Method 1: Online form submission
Method 2: WhatsApp submissions
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Download your offline submission form here: https://bit.ly/yfitopencallforms
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Please send your filled submission form directly via WhatsApp to +1-716-400-1797
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Images, audio files or video clips accompanying your text submissions can be forwarded as well
Timeline
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Deadline: June 6, 2025
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Notification of All Participants: June 20, 2025
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Innovation Sprint: July 3–5, 2025
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Bootcamp: July 21 – August 2, 2025
Steering Committee
Dr. Gloria Aidoo-Frimpong, Dr. Juliet Iwelunmor, Dr. Joseph Tucker, Dr. Oliver Ezechi, Dr. Temitope Ojo, Ms. Emma
Gyamerah, Chris Guure, Gamji Abu-Baare, Anthony Afum Adjei-Awuah, Kwasi Torpey.
For additional information about this contest or questions, please call or text: 0249079431
Email:
4ybyghana@gmail.com
