When I arrived in Johannesburg for the UNAIDS East and Southern Africa (ESA) Youth-Led Forum, held from June 18 to 20, 2025, I was filled with hope, yet also deeply aware of the challenges our generation continues to face. Being in a room filled with young leaders, student activists, researchers, entrepreneurs, and partners from across ESA reminded me that while our struggles are real, our collective power is even greater.
There were diverse representations of participants, including a new generation of leaders. We had high school students, pre-PhD scholars, national CCM members, emerging business founders, and grassroots organisers. Many came from non-traditional backgrounds such as sexology, agriculture, and chemistry. We sometimes forget that the more diverse a room is, the more we accomplish. It also reminded us that youth leadership is not a one-size-fits-all approach. We are building an intersectional movement that reflects the full spectrum of who we are.
“Over those three days, we did not just talk about problems. We mapped solutions, building on a shared vision to create a path forward grounded in our lived realities and driven by our priorities.”
From the very beginning, we were called to be bold. The UNAIDS Regional Director, Anne Githuku-Shongwe, set the tone by speaking truth to power. She reminded us that over 20,000 community peer workers have already lost employment due to funding disruptions. Health services are being scaled down. Young people are being left behind, and despite the support international donors have provided us with for years, we cannot build sustainable movements on external funding alone. We must look inward and identify strategies to strengthen domestic resource mobilisation, ensuring that youth priorities are protected within our own systems.
One message that stuck with me throughout the event was the importance of understanding the political and historical context of the HIV response in the region. Governments do not always act based on what is right, as many make decisions based on electoral incentives and political gains. This means that young people must be clear and confident about their priorities. We must organise, mobilise, and protect the spaces we have fought to open.
One of the most eye-opening sessions was the presentation on “The Cost of Inaction”. It laid out how inaction is not just a health crisis but an economic and political threat. When young people are unemployed, excluded, or underserved, entire societies suffer. Tax revenues drop. Dependency increases. Systems destabilise. We discussed how this information should be used to encourage governments to adopt equity-based budgeting, with a focus on youth economic empowerment at its centre.
Equally powerful were the findings presented in the AGYW Mapping and SWO Report by ATHENA. The report exposed how many youth-led organisations are struggling financially. Some are in debt. Others have laid off staff. Policies meant to protect and support young women are outdated or not enforced. Parents and guardians are not being included in the creation of safe spaces for adolescent girls and young women. We were urged to think beyond short-term interventions and toward sustainable solutions. That includes legal reform, entrepreneurship, and stronger community-based programs.
Another theme that dominated our conversations was the growing threat of anti-rights movements. These movements are well-funded, highly organised, and gaining traction in our region.
“Many participants shared painful stories of program shutdowns, stop-work orders, and targeted exclusion. We talked about the shrinking civic space and the rising stigma and violence faced by young people, especially those from marginalised communities. Our response must be united and strategic.”
In discussions about HIV sustainability and integration, it became clear that many youth are unaware of existing national sustainability plans. Sustainability cannot be someone else’s responsibility. It must be a shared agenda that includes climate, education, gender, and technology. We identified practical barriers, including bureaucracy and a lack of recognition for youth in official processes. We need more policy coherence, better coordination, and genuine recognition of the work that youth-led organisations are already doing.
A memorable session focused on social accountability revealed that very few young people were aware of the ESA Commitment or other regional frameworks guiding SRHR and education. Without this awareness, holding governments accountable becomes difficult. We emphasised the value of youth-led monitoring and evaluation, and the importance of breaking down policies, such as CSE, into localised, context-specific themes. Understanding what governments have pledged and how to assess their progress is crucial.
In the field of innovation, we examined how artificial intelligence could revolutionise access to healthcare and education. However, we also recognised AI's limitations, particularly in under-resourced communities. The digital divide remains a significant issue. We emphasised the need to blend online tools with offline solutions.
When we turned to resource mobilisation, we shared creative ideas from across the region, including pageants, school debates, outreach boot camps, and youth-business partnerships. We also learned from the UNYPA case study, which demonstrated the power of relationship-building and long-term positioning. Youth-led organisations need more than funding; they require support, recognition, and access to decision-making spaces.
“At the heart of the forum was the development of a three-year joint action plan. We outlined priorities across eight thematic areas: education, climate justice, humanitarian settings, key populations, digital rights, persons living with HIV, persons with disabilities, and feminist movements. These thematic areas were supported by four cross-cutting pillars: economic empowerment, data for programming, capacity strengthening, and digital systems integration.”
As the forum came to a close, I felt a deep sense of clarity and purpose. I am grateful to have been supported by Y+ Global and the READY Movement in participating in this event, which has since evolved into a movement. A movement rooted in youth power, justice, and a shared vision for a more inclusive and sustainable region, we are not asking for permission; we are moving, and anyone who believes in justice, equity, and youth rights should join us.