By Karen Ávila Alcántara

Member of Young Voices for the Right to Health

Call to action

Today, we, the youth, are raising our voices. We are not silent, we are not indifferent, and we are not alone. We demand that our right to a healthy life be respected. We demand that decisions be made with a focus on public health, not on the interests of the industries that profit from our addiction.

Because yes: the lungs are under pressure, but our generation is also under attack.

Our history

At the beginning of this year, I joined "Young Voices for the Right to Health," a campaign promoted by SERAJ (Youth Services AC). Before, I didn't think much about health. But this process changed the way I see the world.

I learned that health is a right, not a privilege. And that defending it means being informed, organizing, and taking action.

The real threat

Our campaign promotes tobacco and nicotine control, especially among children and young people. We are challenging an industry that launches products with deceptive colors, flavors, and shapes—such as vapes that look like highlighters—to lure young customers and create addiction.

These products aren't random. They're strategic. And dangerous.

Why fight for a tax?

We have trained ourselves to understand the laws, public policies, and the need to raise the tobacco tax by at least 3 pesos per cigarette.

This can save thousands of lives by making it harder for children and young people to access highly addictive products.

And no, we're not against those who consume. We're against an industry that profits from the health of millions.

We are not naive

Some adults have doubted our intentions. They accuse us of having political interests. But our truth is simple:

• We are young people concerned about our present, our families, and the future of our communities.

• We've seen firsthand how these products destroy lives. And that drives us.

A family that fights together

What started as a campaign is now a family. We support each other, we motivate each other, we listen to each other.

We transform the negative into momentum.

We transform criticism into energy.

And recently, during the closing of the campaign, we learned that our actions have reached far and wide: videos, posters, and publications have reached thousands.

We demand action

We do not ask for charity or condescension.

We call for responsible political decisions, social awareness, and respect for our right to health.

Because if we don't fight today, tomorrow may be too late.

Closing with heart

Lungs under pressure. Taxes with intention.

Young Voices for the Right to Health.

From my voice to yours

We are not indifferent, we are conscious youth fighting for health.

They tell us we're exaggerating, but we're just making a revolution.

I'm Karen Ávila and I belong to Young Voices for the Right to Health.

I'm aware that there's a world beyond the highway... and I want to change it.