On 7 July 2022, the Global Youth Mobilization (GYM), powered by the Big 6 Youth Organisations*, won the Excellence in Healthcare Partnerships award at the prestigious Communique Awards in London, UK. The Communique Awards celebrate the best work in healthcare initiatives and communications that achieve results and deliver successful campaigns in the healthcare sector.

GYM secured the award in partnership with the communications and strategy agency, MHP Mischief. The win is fantastic recognition for the power of youth-led solutions to the impact of the pandemic, the importance of youth decision-making and the impact of effective partnership work. It is also testament to the commitment and hard-work of the Big 6 Youth Organisations that power the GYM and the WHO and UN Foundation who generously support and sustain it.

Since our launch in December 2020 GYM has worked with MHP Mischief to create and implement an integrated communications and public affairs campaign to put young people at the forefront of the COVID-19 response and recovery. Developed with inputs from young people, with the coordinated collaboration of the Big 6 Youth Organizations who power the GYM, the partnership has helped to secure significant results and raise the profile of the initiative.

Commenting on the win and recognition of the initiative, Anna Segall, Chair of the Global Youth Mobilization and CEO of WAGGGS said:

“We are delighted to have won this important award for excellence in healthcare partnerships. It is vital that young people are at the heart of our recovery efforts from COVID-19 and the Global Youth Mobilization has been our response to this challenge. This award recognises all the efforts, hard-work and innovation of the young leaders who have helped develop our approach, provided crucial leadership and led the overall initiative.”

Reflecting on his experience as a Youth Panellist – the young people who govern and decide which youth-led projects receive funding from the GYM Local Solutions – Benson Onyango from Uganda said:

“Half of the world’s population consists of young people under the age of 30 and there cannot be solutions to the problems they face without their own input. I have seen how young people have the energy, passion and courage to challenge convention needed to identify and address complex global problems with high levels of innovation”.

Clara Brown, a Youth Panellist from Canada said:

“It is extremely important to me that youth have a meaningful role in decision-making around the world, we can do a lot more than people think we can. We are strong and we can change the world!”

In winning the Excellence in Healthcare Partnerships award we are proud and grateful to have worked with MHP Mischief and look forward to continuing to have a positive impact on improving the lives and wellbeing of young people globally.

*About the Big 6 Youth Organizations

Formed in 1996, the Big Six Youth Organizations are the Young Men’s Christian Association, YMCA; World Young Women’s Christian Association, YWCA; World Organization of the Scout Movement; World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts; International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, IFRC; and The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award, which together actively have a reach of 250 million young people worldwide.