Celebrating World Health Week 2024 – Empowering Young Lives Through Health Awareness

Celebrating World Health Week 2024 – Empowering Young Lives Through Health Awareness.

Photo: Mrs Chirwa, a volunteer nurse educator at the Grown Too Quick Foundation sharing knowledge with youths

At Grown Too Quick Foundation (GTQF), while acknowledging health as a state of complete physical, mental and socio-economic wellbeing, we believe good health is a fundamental right, not a privilege. The GTQF dedicated April 7 to April 14 as World Health Week 2024. A #MyHealthMyRight campaign was launched—an initiative aimed at raising awareness on mental health, patient rights, HIV prevention, and the importance of adopting healthy lifestyles and resisting negative peer pressure.

This engagement took the GTQF to 3 schools. Namely, Kankhomba Primary School, Namaona Secondary School and Kanjedza Primary School, where we held interactive sessions and wellness activities tailored to empower young people with knowledge and skills for better health choices. Through real conversations, we uncovered deep-seated concerns—from mental health struggles to misconceptions about HIV and limited understanding of their health rights.

What stood out the most was the overwhelming curiosity and the realisation that so many young people lack access to reliable health information and safe spaces to ask questions. We saw firsthand that all they need is proper guidance, support, and someone who listens.

“In various contexts and because of our culture, sex is not discussed holistically. This is worrisome as we ill-advise each other as peers,” laments Kumbukani, a grade 8 pupil at Kanjedza Primary School.

What’s Next?
GTQF is committed to expanding this initiative, ensuring that more young people receive mental health support, sexual health education, and access to healthcare services. But we can’t do it alone. With the right partnerships and resources, we can scale this impact further, reaching more vulnerable communities across Malawi and beyond.

#MyHealthMyRight #WorldHealthDay2024 #YouthWellness #InvestInYoungLives #HealthForAll