About SYL

Bringing Life-Saving Kidney Care Where It’s Needed Most

Saving Young Lives (SYL) is a global initiative that helps hospitals in low-resource settings care for patients suffering from acute kidney injury (AKI). Without treatment, AKI can quickly become fatal, but with the right care it is often reversible.

SYL strengthens hospital services by helping establish and maintain AKI programmes, including facilities for acute peritoneal dialysis (acute PD) – an affordable and effective treatment option where other therapies are unavailable. We also provide training and education to equip local healthcare teams and raise awareness in the community, ensuring patients are identified early and receive the care they need.

SYL is a collaboration of three primary partners – ISPD, ISN, and IPNA – with the support of SFNDT and APSN, united by a shared goal: to stop children and adults from dying of a treatable condition.

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See What Saving Young Lives Is All About

In just 80 seconds, get to know Saving Young Lives (SYL): who we are, what we do, and what makes us unique. This quick and engaging introduction gives you a glimpse into our mission, our people, the communities we serve, and the meaningful impact we create.

Discover the heart of SYL and learn more about our commitment to supporting young people, creating positive change, and helping build brighter futures. Whether you’re discovering SYL for the first time or want to better understand the work we do, this short video is the perfect place to start.

Our Approach

How We Make a Difference

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Accessibility

Helping hospitals access affordable PD supplies or prepare safe local alternatives.
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Training

Tailored programmes give doctors and nurses the skills to deliver safe AKI care.
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Awareness

Supporting local teams to raise awareness of early AKI detection and treatment.
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Advocacy

Promoting affordable, effective AKI care with policymakers and health professionals.
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Resources

Providing guidelines, materials, and tools to support sustainable AKI programmes.

Expanding Access to AKI Treatment

SYL works with hospitals to build and sustain services for the diagnosis and treatment of AKI. By focusing on simple, effective, and sustainable solutions, we ensure that care is available where it is needed most.

  • Developing hospital AKI programmes that can operate effectively in resource-limited settings.
  • Training local healthcare teams to deliver safe, reliable care and maintain services long-term.
  • Providing access to acute peritoneal dialysis (acute PD) – an affordable, effective treatment for kidney failure where other options are unavailable.

Our Global Impact

Since its creation, SYL has worked worldwide to equip healthcare professionals and hospitals with the knowledge and tools to fight AKI. Our focus is on regions where the need is greatest and where lasting change is possible.

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More than 535 dedicated healthcare professionals trained in AKI diagnosis and treatment.
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80 countries and more than 140 institutions reached across Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Pacific Islands.
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Sustainable hospital programmes established, enabling life-saving AKI care to continue independently.

Success Stories

Support Saving Young Lives

There are many ways you can help SYL bring life-saving kidney care to more communities.

  • Become a partner: Help us expand services and reach more hospitals in need.
  • Join our training programmes: Healthcare professionals can apply to take part in our workshops.
  • Spread awareness: Share knowledge about AKI and the life-saving work being done.
  • Donate: Support the growth of training and resources in low-resource countries.

Support Saving Young Lives

There are many ways you can help SYL bring life-saving kidney care to more communities.

  • Become a partner: Help us expand services and reach more hospitals in need.
  • Join our training programmes: Healthcare professionals can apply to take part in our workshops.
  • Spread awareness: Share knowledge about AKI and the life-saving work being done.
  • Donate: Support the growth of training and resources in low-resource countries.

SYL Training Around the World

  • International Society for Peritoneal Dialysis (ISPD) Congress 2026
    – Cape Town, South Africa, delivered in English and French
  • International Pediatric Nephrology Association (IPNA) Congress 2026 – Kyoto, Japan, delivered in English
  • Saving Young Lives-IPNA Workshop 2027 – Location to be confirmed, Brazil, delivered in Spanish
  • XIX Congress of the African Association of Nephrology (AFRAN 2027) – Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, delivered in English
  • Francophone Society of Nephrology, Dialysis and Transplantation (SFNDT) Congress 2027 – Marseille, France, delivered in French
  • Asian Pacific Congress of Nephrology 2027 – Bali, Indonesia, delivered in French

If you would like to know more about the SYL Initiative or would like to organise training in your region, please click below to contact us.

Partners