August 5-8, 2026Windhoek, Namibia

The 6th Southern African Regional Students and Youth Conference

SARSYC VI

Align for Action: Sustaining Progress in Youth Health and Education

#DrivingRegionalSolidarity

A flagship, youth-led regional conference convened by SAYWHAT in partnership with University of Namibia (UNAM), bringing together students, youth leaders, policymakers, civil society, development partners, and the private sector from across Southern Africa to drive transnational advocacy on youth health and education.

Conference Countdown

14
Countries Represented
2,000+
Youth Reached
150+
Research Papers
6
Conference Editions

What is SARSYC?

The Southern African Regional Students and Youth Conference (SARSYC) is the premier regional platform for transnational advocacy on youth health and education.

1

Connect

Network with 500+ young leaders, researchers, policymakers, development partners, and the private sector from across Southern Africa.

2

Learn

Engage with cutting-edge research, best practices, and innovative solutions in youth health and education.

3

Act

Develop actionable strategies and commitments to drive real change in youth health and education outcomes.

Conference Tracks

SARSYC VI features five thematic tracks addressing critical issues in youth development.

Track 01

Education Rights and Equity

Financing and innovation for equitable digital learning in rural communities, evaluating the effectiveness of climate resilience in education systems, Gender Equality & Social Inclusion (GESI) through responsive education budgeting, and CSE as a driver for quality education and retention.

Track 02

HIV/AIDS, STIs, and Sexual Health

Sustaining gains in HIV/AIDS and STIs prevention and treatment, addressing resurgence among People Who Use and Inject Drugs, expanding harm reduction programs, and domestic health financing and resource mobilization.

Track 03

Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) Prevention and Health Lifestyles

Community-led NCD prevention and integration into primary health care, promoting healthy behaviors, nutrition, exercise, and reducing harmful habits, digital health tools for lifestyle change and risk monitoring, and innovations for early detection and screening in low-resource settings.

Track 04

Digital Health and Safety

Digital violence/ online harassment: gendered vulnerabilities and responses, social media algorithms and adolescent mental health and behavior, online gambling and betting addiction, emerging trends and policy responses, and leveraging technology for health, education and service delivery.

Track 05

Mental Health and Substance Abuse

Rising mental health challenges among boys and young men, suicide prevention strategies and psychosocial support, substance abuse trends and government responses, progress and gaps, and community-driven interventions for mental health and addiction recovery.

Featured Speakers

Meet some of the distinguished speakers who will be sharing their expertise at SARSYC VI.

Ready to Join Us in Windhoek?

Registration is now open for SARSYC VI. Secure your spot today and be part of this transformative conference.