Youth as changemakers: Co-Creating a healthier future in Chile

The 2024 local initiative “Community of Practice: Innovating for Better Health” in Chile was set out to co-design a strategy that empowers young people to actively engage in shaping health solutions for their communities. Through a collaborative, intergenerational process involving literature reviews, policy consultations, interviews, ideation workshops, and focus groups, a comprehensive diagnosis of youth involvement in health decision-making was developed. Young changemakers worked alongside public and private sector stakeholders, Ashoka Fellows and Boehringer Ingelheim employees, to propose concrete actions for strengthening their role in the health ecosystem. The initiative culminated in the co-creation of a strategic roadmap, supported by targeted workshops on communication and stakeholder engagement. 

A key learning from this process is that including the voices of young people in health decision-making is not only a matter of rights—it is essential for designing effective, relevant, and impactful public policies. When youth are engaged in areas such as mental health, disease prevention, and health promotion, the outcomes are not only more aligned with their realities, but also help empower a generation of changemakers committed to building a healthier, more inclusive society.