Young people from across Southern Africa gathered in Windhoek, Namibia, from 5–7 August 2026 for the 6th Southern African Regional Students and Youth Conference (SARSYC VI), bringing together youth and key regional stakeholders to advance youth-led solutions.
Held under the theme “Align for Action: Sustaining Progress in Youth Health and Education,” the conference focused on safeguarding gains in youth health and education while addressing persistent and emerging challenges through regional solidarity, partnerships and youth-led action.
The conference marked another milestone in SARSYC’s evolution from a platform established in 2015 to advance sexual and reproductive health and rights into a broader regional movement addressing the links between health, education, youth leadership and sustainable development.
Addressing participants during the High-Level Engagement Platform, Ms. Eunice Smith, Head of Office and UNESCO Representative to Namibia, highlighted the importance of addressing health and education together, noting that progress in one area is closely linked to outcomes in the other.
