The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) has announced the launch of its “Youth Voices” creative contest for 2024, which invites adolescents and young people aged 10 to 24 from the Americas to share their ideas on how to improve health services for young individuals. The contest will be open for submissions from July 1 to July 31, 2024.
This year, PAHO has introduced a new category assisted by Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the contest for the first time. Participants can submit their proposals individually or as a group in various creative categories such as painting, drawing, illustration, comic, poem, narrative, video, and song.
The aim of the Youth Voices 2024 contest is to gather insights from young people themselves on ways to enhance the quality and accessibility of health services for their demographic. By doing so, PAHO hopes to reduce preventable mortality and morbidity among young individuals in the Americas, ultimately improving their overall health and well-being.
Access to healthcare is essential for individuals to receive timely and quality services when needed, according to PAHO. The organization is dedicated to supporting the development of quality healthcare services for all, including young people. Understanding the needs and expectations of young individuals in terms of healthcare will help inform the enhancement of services tailored to their specific requirements.
In previous years, PAHO initiated similar creative contests focusing on different aspects of adolescent health, such as the prevention of adolescent pregnancy and mental health. Over 800 adolescents and young people from the Americas have participated in these past editions, demonstrating their creativity and contributing valuable ideas.
Winners of the Youth Voices 2024 contest will be awarded cash prizes, and their original works created for the contest will be featured on PAHO’s communication platforms and related campaigns. It is an opportunity for young individuals to showcase their talents and make meaningful contributions to improving healthcare services for their peers in the region.
The Youth Voices 2024 contest highlights PAHO’s commitment to involving youth in shaping policies that affect them directly. By giving young people a platform to express themselves creatively while also addressing critical issues related to public health in Latin America and Caribbean countries
