October 2025 — Across Uganda, young people are proving that when empowered with the right skills and support, they can drive transformative change for their peers and communities. Through the U-Report Communities of Action (CoAs) initiative—supported by UNICEF Uganda and coordinated by Solutions for People (S4P Group)—youth are leading the HPV+ campaign, tackling misinformation and boosting uptake of the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, a critical tool in preventing cervical cancer among girls aged 9–14.

The campaign, implemented in Namayingo, Kamuli, and Tororo districts, trained more than 70 U-Reporters and Young Adolescent Peer Supporters (YAPS) as community mobilizers, peer educators, and digital advocates. These youth champions reached schools and communities, spreading messages on HPV vaccination, adolescent health, nutrition, and gender-based violence prevention—showing that meaningful youth engagement can significantly advance health and social change.

Empowering Youth as Change Agents

The campaign began with a national Trainer of Trainers (ToT) workshop at the UNICEF Uganda Country Office, where 12 youth leaders received intensive training in Social and Behaviour Change (SBC), Human-Centered Design (HCD), HPV communication, and nutrition promotion. They then trained 74 district-level U-Reporters through interactive sessions—including group discussions, role-plays, scenario-based exercises, and real-life simulations—equipping them with practical skills for community engagement.

U-Reporters were also trained in digital data collection using KoboToolbox, a mobile-based survey tool that allowed them to conduct community assessments and collect rapid insights to guide their mobilization strategies.

Listening and Co-Creating Solutions

Before launching community activities, U-Reporters conducted a Community Rapid Assessment, engaging over 900 students, teachers, parents, and health workers to identify knowledge gaps, attitudes, and barriers to HPV vaccination. The findings shaped a series of HCD co-creation sessions, where adolescents, caregivers, and health workers together reflected on stigma, fears, misinformation, and motivators around HPV vaccination.

“It was the first time many adults listened to what we, as adolescents, actually think about vaccines,” shared Zaina, a 17-year-old U-Reporter from Namayingo. “It made me feel respected—and responsible to share the truth with my peers.”

These youth-led sessions also generated solutions. One standout innovation was the “Safety Friends” model, a peer-support approach where adolescents form small circles of trust to promote positive health decisions, protect one another from risky behaviours, and ensure girls stay in school.

School Clubs Driving Change

Schools became the heartbeat of the HPV+ campaign. With support from District Education Officers (DEOs), U-Reporters collaborated with headteachers and student clubs. Across 29 schools, FunDoo and U-Report Clubs led weekly sessions on HPV vaccination, menstrual hygiene, gender-based violence prevention, and life skills.

Students creatively used songs, drama, and storytelling to convey messages. In Kamuli, for example, FunDoo Club members performed a skit called “I Am Her Keeper”, emphasising collective responsibility to protect girls from early pregnancy and cervical cancer.

Extending Reach into Communities

U-Reporters took the HPV+ message beyond the school fence—into markets, churches, mosques, and boda-boda stages, addressing fears and misinformation, particularly among caregivers who influence health decisions.

In Kamuli, parents who had vaccinated their daughters shared radio testimonials broadcast on Ssebo FM and community audio towers. These real voices helped counter myths linking the vaccine to infertility and reassured hesitant caregivers.

Linking Health and Nutrition

To strengthen the link between nutrition and vaccine effectiveness, U-Reporters introduced kitchen gardens in schools and homes. The initiative encouraged families to plant nutrient-rich vegetables like red amaranth and fruit trees such as oranges. 200 kitchen gardens were established across the three districts, benefiting more than 1,100 households.

“We planted what we could harvest together,” said Miriam, a teacher in Tororo. “It became a lesson in both health and teamwork.”

The campaign’s environmental touch also left a symbolic mark—orange trees were planted in public spaces to stand as living reminders of the community’s shared commitment to adolescent wellbeing.

Measuring Impact

By the end of the campaign, over 15,000 parents and caregivers and 4,500 adolescents had been reached with integrated health messages and interactive sessions. A post-implementation survey in July 2025 showed significant progress:

• 89% of adolescent girls correctly identified that the HPV vaccine prevents cervical cancer, up from 62% at baseline.

• 62% of adolescent girls had discussed HPV with their peers, showing active peer-to-peer mobilization.

• 53% used U-Report or other channels to ask questions—double the number from baseline.

Lessons and Way Forward

The HPV+ Communities of Action campaign highlights the power of youth-led Social and Behaviour Change (SBC) approaches in boosting vaccine confidence and health service uptake. Key lessons include:

• Youth leadership drives change: Empowered adolescents can mobilize peers and influence communities.

• Early stakeholder engagement is vital: Involving district and school leaders from the start builds ownership and sustainability.

• Data informs action: Rapid community assessments and Human-Centered Design ensure interventions address real needs.

• Inclusivity matters: Campaigns should reach out-of-school youth and adapt materials to local contexts and languages.

• Continuous communication is key: Trusted community voices help counter misinformation effectively.

• Integrated approaches enhance impact: Linking health messages to life skills, peer support, and nutrition fosters lasting behaviour change.

Building on these lessons, UNICEF Uganda and partners aim to scale the initiative to more districts, strengthen digital engagement through U-Report, and deepen connections between schools, families, and health services. Beyond HPV vaccination, this youth-led, integrated model offers a blueprint for addressing broader adolescent health challenges.