GO BEYOND for a future free of Neglected Tropical Diseases: Youth mobilization and the Launch of the “No to NTDs” Champions Club

Every January 30, the world comes together to celebrate World Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) Day, a crucial occasion to shine a spotlight on these diseases that affect more than one billion people, particularly in Africa. This year, Speak Up Africa and the Basketball Africa League (BAL) have chosen to put youth at the heart of the fight against NTDs through the GO BEYOND campaign, which positions youth as drivers of change. This is how the « No to NTDs » Champions Club was born, an innovative program that places young people at the center of the fight against these diseases, using sports as a lever for action.

A unique gathering for an essential cause

On February 1, 2025, a basketball court in Mermoz became the playing field for a groundbreaking initiative. Fifty young basketball players from the Basketball Africa League (BAL), 15 members of the Senegal Youth Consortium, and 10 slam poets participated in an event like no other. This workshop crossed the boundaries between sport, culture, and advocacy, with one goal in mind: raising awareness and taking action against Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) – a true game-winning assist for a healthier future.
An U16 basketball clinic allowed young talented players to hone their skills, while a tournament brought together several teams in a competitive and friendly atmosphere.
Influential figures from the digital and artistic scenes were also present to amplify the message: Khaby Lame, Faynara, Doudou Fait des Vidéos, Cheikh Foot Style andBoubou Design , bringing their unique touch to the event and mobilizing their communities for the cause.
In addition, 15 budding artists gathered to co-create a mural on NTDs, symbolizing the impact of art in the fight against these diseases.

An Interactive and Inspiring Workshop

Led by Sobel Aziz Ngom, a passionate advocate for the fight against Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs), this workshop was a true moment of exchange, learning, and collective awareness.
The workshop included a variety of engaging activities:

• An educational quiz: Questions to spark learning while having fun and challenging one’s knowledge.
• Inspiring testimonies: Artists and committed young people shared their experiences and their motivation for taking action against NTDs.
• Signing of a charter: Each participant officially signed an engagement charter to join the “No to NTDs” Champions Club to actively promote the fight against NTDs in their communities, use their influence to raise awareness and mobilize around this cause, and support concrete actions and creative initiatives for a healthier future.
• An artistic performance: A moving slam performance concluded the workshop, illustrating the power of youth engagement.

The “No to NTDs” Champions Club: A Movement for Change

This gathering marked the birth of the “No to NTDs” Champions Club, providing a platform to GO BEYOND traditional approaches and build a diverse coalition of voices reaching far beyond the healthcare sector and accelerate progress towards NTD elimination. Through this club, each participant becomes an agent of change, driven by the conviction that young people have the power to break the cycle of NTDs.
The objective is clear: to make sport a real lever for transformation and to mobilize the influence of young leaders to champion the fight against NTDs. Because today, basketball players, artists, and content creators are not just public figures—they are voices, role models, and drivers of change capable of inspiring and raising awareness among thousands of people.

The link between youth, sport, and NTDs is undeniable. For many young African athletes, these diseases are not just a health threat: they are a barrier to their passion, performance, and future. Schistosomiasis, soil-transmitted helminthiasis (STH), and other NTDs do not only affect health; they shatter dreams by causing chronic fatigue, anemia, muscle pain, and growth disorders. But young people refuse to remain spectators in the face of this reality. As committed champions, they take the lead: raising awareness, encouraging screening, promoting medical care, and adopting proper hygiene practices. Every action counts, and every commitment brings us closer to a future free of NTDs.

These young people are not just athletes or artists. They are ambassadors of a generation that refuses to see its potential hindered by preventable diseases. Their commitment sends a strong signal: together, we have the power to eliminate NTDs and pave the way for a healthier, fairer, and more promising future for all.

A Positive Start for a Promising Future

The launch of the GO BEYOND campaign, and this first edition of the « No to NTDs » Champions Club have laid a solid foundation for future action. Thanks to the energy and engagement of young people, Speak Up Africa and the BAL hope to see this kind of initiative multiply across the continent. After all, who better than youth to lead change?
Uniting our forces and acting together to eliminate NTDs: this is how we will give every young person the chance for a healthy future. Join the movement, share hope, and be the leaders of change. Together, we can make a difference.