The Global Network of Young People Living with HIV joins the rest of the world in commemorating the International Youth Day under the theme: Youth engagement for global action.
2020 is a unique year for Y+ Network as it has officially registered in the Netherlands as the Stitching Global Network of Young People Living with HIV (Y+ Global). This announcement comes at the right time when organizations are reflecting on the engagement of young people in their diversity at all levels.
Since its establishment in 2010, the Global Network of Young People Living with HIV has been supported to implement its activities by the Global Network of People Living with HIV (GNP+)
“What began in 2010 as a youth initiative under GNP+ to bring youth issues into the mainstream and elevate youth voices, has evolved into an incredible network of young people with a mission to make sure that young people living with HIV can contribute to the HIV response. As we celebrate International Youth day, after a decade under our wing, GNP+ is beyond excited to see Y+ Global fly the nest and register as its own organisation, improving youth-focused HIV Programming and ready to positively affect young lives.” – Rico Gustav, GNP+ Executive Director
Recently, the Board and Executive Office finalized the policies and procedures which will be guiding their operations as an independent organization.
“It’s no longer business as usual; the involvement and engagement of the executive Board in initiating and finalizing the registration process shows that the network believes so much in the engagement of young people. Since the inception of the network, GNP+ has been supporting our operations – guided by their policies and procedures” – Igor Kuchin, Board Chair.
Moving forward, Y+ Global will be transitioning from GNP+ in 2021 and it will start its own operations with a well-established system guided by the developed and approved policies and guidelines.
“We now have final policies and procedures, our Programme and finance systems are being finalized which will support the smooth flow of all our operations. This process was spearheaded by our Board and Executive Office. At the beginning of the year 2021, we will be transitioning and starting our own ways of operating as an independent organization.
I would like to thank GNP+ for believing in young people over the past years. They have been supporting Y+ Global in implementing Programmes with the spirit of seeing Y+ Global growing and standing on its own feet and there we are.” – Cedric Nininahazwe, Director of Programmes, Management and Governance.
As part of commemorating the International Youth Day, on the 12th of August 2020. Y+ Global launched a digital campaign: #InOurTime which was launched on the 5th of August 2020 and will run up to the 10th of December 2020. Precisely, for the International Youth Day, lead up session has been implementing through Y+ Global Facebook page. #InOurTime is a campaign which aims to bring together the voices global decision makers and create platform for dialogue with young people from different backgrounds and regions. Global decision makers have been reflecting on how life was in their time when they were young in different aspects of life not limited to leadership, advocacy, service delivery and youth engagement. Young people in their diversity are helping in shaping the conversation and also reflect on the above mentioned aspects #InOurTime.
“What began in 2010 as a youth initiative under GNP+ to bring youth issues into the mainstream and elevate youth voices, has evolved into an incredible network of young people with a mission to make sure that young people living with HIV can contribute to the HIV response. As we celebrate International Youth day, after a decade under our wing, GNP+ is beyond excited to see Y+ Global fly the nest and register as its own organisation, improving youth-focused HIV Programming and ready to positively affect young lives.”Rico Gustav
GNP+ Executive Director