The Youth Researchers Academy (YRA) trains youth researchers (18-24 years) on the concept and purpose of research and on the research process (from planning research questions to data collection, analysis, and dissemination). Following a one-week residential training, youth researchers are offered the opportunity to carry out supervised research, working with a dedicated mentor alongside a highly experienced research team.

 

Young people aged 10-24 years now constitute a quarter of the world’s population. This number will increase at least until 2040 in Africa following substantial improvements in child survival. Nine out of ten adolescents live in low - and middle-income countries such as Zimbabwe.

 

Ensuring the voices of young people are present in matters directly affecting their health in general and more specifically sexual and reproductive health (SRH) is crucial. It is increasingly recognized that they should be involved as research partners in the design, development, implementation and evaluation of interventions intended to meet their health needs. Capacity building and training of young people in how to conduct ethically and scientifically sound research is key to meaningful involvement of young people as equal partners.