African Youth Safeguarding Network (AYSN)
African Youth Safeguarding Network (AYSN)
About AYSN
The African Youth Safeguarding Network (AYSN)'s mission is to understand and address the psychosocial needs of Children and Young People (CYP) across Africa.
Our journey began in 2019 with pilot projects in Zambia and Sierra Leone, where we sought to comprehend and support the challenges faced by vulnerable and disadvantaged CYPs. Building upon the success of these initiatives, we expanded our reach to include Rwanda and South Africa in 2021, recognising the urgent need to address the impact of COVID-19 restrictions on the physical and mental health of young people.
At AYSN, we believe in the power of collaboration and innovation. Through partnerships with local organisations and leveraging existing research networks, we co-design and co-produce tailored resources to promote the online and offline well-being of CYP in diverse settings.
Our approach integrates proven frameworks such as the Digital Self-Defence tool developed in Rwanda, the Young Commissioner framework implemented in Zambia, and the Social Prescribing framework used in the UK.


Our initiative is groundbreaking because we prioritise the needs of CYP who are often overlooked and underrepresented in research. By working closely with communities, and drawing upon local knowledge and outreach systems, we ensure that our efforts are impactful and sustainable.
Furthermore, our commitment to strengthening referral processes aims to widen access to both informal and formal health and welfare systems, thus creating lasting positive change for CYP.
Looking ahead, AYSN aims to expand its network of collaborators and partners across the continent by 2028. Together, we can continue to empower young people, amplify their voices, and create a brighter future for generations to come.
Teams
UK
- Prof Julia Davidson
- Dr Darren Sharpe
- Mohsen Rajabi
- Dr Ainul Hanafiah
- Dr Marcello Bertotti
- Emmanuela Osei-Asemani
South Africa
- Dr Chinwe Obuaku-Igwe
- Unathi Mahlasela
- Zimbini Madubela
- Emmanuel Ogbuabo
- Uchenna Anayo
Collaborating organisations
- University of the Western Cape
- Indima Yethu
- Sociology of Health Working Group, South African Sociological Association
Rwanda
- Ninette Umurerwa
- David Buregeya Irabizi
Collaborating organisations
Zambia
- Dr Clement Chileshe
- Katongo Chileshe
- Mayamba Sitali Joseph
- Frankson Mushindu
- Kaluba Kampuni
- Washington Mguti Mabena
Sierra Leone
- James Fallah-Williams
- Ibrahim Sesay
- Dr Ibrahim Munu
Collaborating organisations
- Practical Tools Initiatives
- Njala University
- Sport for Sustainable Development
AYSN Impact from Research
Our research has already made significant strides in improving the lives of Children and Young People (CYP) across Africa.
Success stories include the implementation of the Digital Self-Defence tool in Rwanda, which has increased online safety awareness among youth. In Zambia, the Young Commissioner framework has empowered CYP to participate actively in community decisions affecting their lives. In addition, we helped to rehabilitate disabled or disadvantaged CYP affected by the COVID-19 pandemic in Sierra Leone. We have also delivered merchandise goods to business-oriented CYP, and artisanal tools in tailoring and carpentry to CYP with these skills, and have referred CYP to educational institutions for those wanting to return to school/college.
Through ongoing studies and collaboration with community organisations and local charities/NGOs, we continue to refine our strategies and interventions to maximise their effectiveness and relevance to the needs of children and young Africans, particularly marginalised groups.
How does the Network support SDGs?
AYSN's efforts align closely with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG):
SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being, and SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities.
Our initiatives strive to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages by improving mental health support systems and increasing accessibility to health and welfare services. Additionally, by fostering inclusive and sustainable urbanisation, we are helping to create environments where young people can thrive and have access to psychosocial support services during their development.
How to join the Network
Joining the AYSN is an opportunity to make a difference in the lives of young Africans. We welcome:
- Community Organisations: Collaborate with us to provide local insights and outreach. You can also be linked with your network country.
- Researchers and Students: Contribute to our studies or develop your study using our open-access data through:
- Researchers:
- New insights and innovations: Our comprehensive datasets provide a rich source of information for studying the psychosocial impacts of health crises on youth across different African contexts. Researchers can analyse these data to develop new conceptual frameworks or interventions that are tailored to the unique challenges and opportunities in African settings, particularly for vulnerable populations.
- Cross-disciplinary collaboration: AYSN’s data span various domains, such as mental health, education, and social welfare, making the data suitable for interdisciplinary research that can lead to holistic solutions and increased impact.
- Grant applications and funding: Utilising AYSN's unique datasets and network can enhance research proposals and applications for grants by demonstrating a commitment to addressing pressing issues in underserved populations, which many funding agencies prioritise in the UK or targeted local countries in Africa.
- Students:
- Academic projects and theses: Undergraduates and postgraduates can use AYSN’s data for their student projects, theses, or dissertations to gain practical experience in this field. The data provide a real-world application of their coursework and an opportunity to contribute to meaningful change (e.g. MRes Social Research and Social Justice).
- Skills development: Working with our data helps students develop critical skills such as research design, data analysis, critical thinking, and report writing.
- Networking and career advancement: Engaging with AYSN through data usage allows students to network with professionals and researchers in their fields of interest. This can help them to find internships, job opportunities at NGOs, and collaborations with our local partners.
Research Findings
Discover more about our research and the findings by visiting the following papers:
- Mental health and wellbeing implications of the COVID-19 quarantine for disabled and disadvantaged children and young people: evidence from a cross-cultural study in Zambia and Sierra Leone
- A solution-focused project to address the challenges of COVID-19 restrictions on children and young people
Are you interested in using the AYSN open access data?
The African Youth Safeguarding Network (AYSN) offers valuable opportunities for researchers and students interested in using our data to explore and address the psychosocial needs of CYP in Africa.
Both researchers and students are encouraged to engage with AYSN’s data responsibly and ethically, ensuring that their work aligns with our mission and contributes positively to the lives of CYP in Africa.
If you are interested in joining the Network, accessing the AYSN data, or have enquiries about our data, please contact the Deputy Director of the Institute for Connected Communities (ICC), Dr Darren Sharpe at d.sharpe@uel.ac.uk.