Young people need to be in charge of their own health. To ensure that this happens, “listen to our opinions, give us a voice, and also provide us with those spaces so that we will be able to advocate for our own issues because we are the experts of our own lives”, states Merci Niyibeshaho of Y+ Kenya. Watch her compelling message in the video below!
“Young people are faced with most health challenges in sexual and reproductive health services, new HIV infections, and mental health”
“Currently, young people are the ones faced with the most health challenges that we have right now globally. That is in terms of sexual and reproductive health services, increasing new HIV infections, and even mental health. This is why it is important that young people take responsibilities of their own health and lives to ensure that we are accountable for our own health, we are responsible and we own it in general. Also it is important to ensure that we take lead because we are the ones to know the challenges we are facing, where the problem is and even the solution to these challenges, because we are the experts of our own lives. To ensure that this happens, listen to our opinions, give us a voice, and also provide us with those spaces so that we will be able to advocate for our own issues because we are the experts of our own lives.”
About YouthWise
The YouthWise project aims to amplify the voices of young people living with HIV in Kenya and Malawi to enable them to practice self-care and fulfil their sexual and reproductive health and rights needs. YouthWise is a youth- and women-led project, implemented by Y+ Global, Y+ Kenya and Y+ Malawi which are networks of young people living with HIV, AYARHEP (Ambassador for Youth and Adolescent Reproductive Health Programmes) in Kenya and the Coalition of Women Living with HIV and AIDS (COWLHA) in Malawi.
There is a high need to improve treatment outcomes and quality of life for adolescents and young people living with HIV. YouthWise aims to amplify the voices of young people living with HIV in Kenya and Malawi to enable them to practice self-care and fulfil their sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) needs.
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Today, 1 July 2026, Rutgers and Aidsfonds – Soa Aids Nederland have formally entered into an administrative merger. Under a shared leadership structure, we are working together towards a single strategic direction for sexual health in the Netherlands and around the world. As an important step towards a full legal merger, this development strengthens our joint commitment to health, wellbeing and human rights. Our new organisation is dedicated to creating a world in which everyone can make free and safe choices about their bodies, relationships and sexuality, and where no one dies of AIDS.
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A crucial moment in the fight against AIDS: world leaders are gathering in New York on Monday and Tuesday for the UN High-Level Meeting on HIV and AIDS. Aidsfonds is present to increase pressure on governments. It is essential that governments commit to an inclusive HIV response with adequate funding.
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