At Refugee Youth Changemakers (RYCM), we believe that young people have both the passion and the power to lead meaningful change in their communities. We are proud to announce the launch of a one-year youth-led advocacy project that focuses on improving access to youth-friendly sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) services and education opportunities for adolescent girls and young mothers in Refugee Camps and host communities in Rwanda. This project is made possible through support from Women Deliver’s Emerging Leaders for Change Program, a global initiative that equips young advocates to advance gender equality and health in their communities. The project is being led by Solange Ingabire, who serves as a Women Deliver Fellow under the Emerging Leaders for Change Program, Ishimwe Prince Archimedes, Dushimimuremyi Vasta and Francine. Solange’s leadership and fellowship support have played a key role in making this collaboration possible within the RYCM team.

Through this initiative, RYCM seeks to generate new evidence, amplify youth voices, and inspire local action to improve the wellbeing of girls and young mothers in Rwanda’s refugee settlements. The team will conduct participatory research with adolescents, parents, teachers, health workers, and community leaders to understand the barriers to SRHR access and school re-entry. Using these findings, the project will develop an advocacy toolkit with recommendations for policymakers, educators, and community organizations. The toolkit will help strengthen SRHR education, promote gender-responsive policies, and encourage more supportive environments for young mothers to return to school. Alongside this, RYCM will host dialogues and workshops with men, boys, and parents to promote shared responsibility in supporting girls’ rights to health and education. These community-level engagements will build understanding, empathy, and positive social change driven by youth themselves.

As the project progresses, the findings and lessons will be documented and published in an online research article (to be communicated), making the insights accessible to a global audience. The project also seeks to bring together key partners, including government representatives, humanitarian organizations, and advocates for a collaborative roundtable to discuss practical solutions informed by the research. Through the support of Women Deliver and the dedication of Solange Ingabire and her team, this initiative demonstrates how refugee youth can lead transformative advocacy that bridges evidence with action. At RYCM, we remain committed to creating spaces where refugee youth are not just participants in development, but leaders of the solutions that shape their futures.