Young people need to be heard when voicing their needs for sexual and reproductive health and HIV services and information. After one year, the following achievements have been reported in Malawi:

• 154 changemakers and support group leaders are trained on HIV knowledge, treatment and health literacy, self-care, mental and physical well-being and relationships. They incorporated this information into their awareness activities which has led to a significant increase in knowledge on HIV and decrease in HIV stigma and discrimination.
• 81 support groups were established. Due to less stigma and discrimination more young people living with HIV joined support groups.
• Y+ Malawi organized community entry meetings with 60 community stakeholders such as parents, community leaders, police and health care workers to increase community participation and harness collaborations in response to young people’s needs.
• Sensitisation campaigns have led to decreased HIV stigma among young people in the community. Eight of those were aired on community radio stations tackling gender inequality as a root cause of the HIV epidemic. During a sports activity in which 3 educational sessions were held, 4130 condoms have been distributed.
• Anecdotal evidence suggests increased uptake of HIV and SRHR services among adolescents as remarked by health care providers during review meetings in the health facilities.

"Our sensitization campaigns in collaboration with community leaders have resulted in reduction of HIV stigma in the community. Our support group grew from 9 to 19 members and we now meet freely in open spaces without fear of being ridiculed" - Support group member in Mangochi, Malawi

• A needs assessment tool was developed, in line with National Guidelines on provision of youth-friendly services, to assess the standard of quality and quality provision of services. Among others, findings were used to provide feedback to the Ministry of Health in Kenya on how they can scale up youth-friendly service provision in more facilities. Findings also will inform youth-led advocacy on improving youth-friendly services.
• 10 Impact Peer Mentors were trained who each support 10 adolescents and young people with HIV who are struggling with adherence and mental health. Through individual support and weekly meetings, some young people have been able to accept their HIV status. Some have also shared that they are now confident enough to attend meetings targeting young people living with HIV and can speak out.
• Quarterly group therapy sessions with young people living with HIV were held to understand their treatment literacy gaps and other relevant issues. Y+ Kenya noted a change in the confidence of the young people attending these sessions in the area.
• Quarterly outreaches were held in Nairobi and Mombasa to sensitize adolescents and young people living with HIV on mental health. "In 2021 my twin brother lost his life to HIV after struggling with adherence. He was my biggest support system and I was drowning in depression. If Y+ Kenya did not have peer educators who supported me to talk about it I would honestly have joined him. Right now I am at a good place mentally and even found a part time job" - 20 year old young woman

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.