The power of youth is at the heart of the Youth Olympic Games in Dakar 2026, with a mission to empower and inspire the next generation. The organizers are determined to leave a lasting legacy, and their efforts began in May 2025 with the launch of the Dakar 2026 Learning Academy. This flagship program aims to train and employ over 400 young professionals, aged 21 to 35, from Senegal and across Africa. It's an ambitious initiative to create a skilled workforce for the upcoming event and beyond.
But here's where it gets controversial... The organizers are taking a holistic approach, focusing not just on physical activity but also on the overall well-being of young people. They recognize the importance of nutrition, hygiene, and mental health, and have made these aspects central to their initiatives.
This year's Dakar en Jeux has been a platform for promoting health awareness and education among youth. The festival has featured various activities and messages tailored to inspire and inform young minds about leading healthier lives.
And this is the part most people miss... The organizers have adopted an innovative strategy by partnering with social media influencers to spread their message. The Impact Spark program, developed in collaboration with SPARK/innov-action, combines health education with physical activity, showcasing the vital role of sport in promoting a healthy lifestyle.
One of the key figures behind this initiative is influencer Maryam Arama Ndiaye, who has a massive following of over 110,000 on Instagram. Maryam's journey began during the COVID-19 pandemic, when she noticed a lack of health-related content tailored to her community. She decided to take matters into her own hands and educate her peers about critical health issues.
Maryam's impact has been remarkable. In just a few years, she has become a leading voice on health in Senegalese social media. Her secret? Speaking their language and breaking down complex medical terms into easily understandable concepts.
For Maryam, having the Youth Olympics in her city is a dream come true, and she feels honored to be part of the organizing team. Her videos focus on addressing unhealthy habits among young people and raising awareness about various health issues, including reproductive health and violence against women and children.
She has a special message for the young athletes who will be visiting Dakar next year: "Don't fall for junk food. Your body needs nutritious fuel to perform at its best."
The Impact Spark program at Dakar en Jeux aims to reach even more youth, promoting healthy living and disease prevention. It's an exciting initiative that combines the power of social media influencers with the impact of sport to create a positive change in the lives of Senegalese youth.
