Designed for Scale: Winning Ideas to Accelerate Lenacapavir Uptake Among Youth in Africa

by Emily Hickner | May 26, 2026 | INSPIRE Designathon, Learning Core

Eight dynamic teams of research and community collaborators journeyed across Africa — converging on Lagos, Nigeria for the second annual INSPIRE Designathon Sprint. The energy was electric from the moment teams arrived, bringing bold ideas, deep community knowledge, and a shared passion to change the trajectory of HIV prevention and care for young people. Over three packed days (2-4 May 2026), INSPIRE team members and competing designathon teams dove into expert-led discussions, networking sessions, and tailored coaching — all focused on one transformative challenge: scaling up lenacapavir (LEN) for youth-centered HIV prevention and care across Africa.

LEN represents one of the most promising long-acting HIV prevention and treatment options. LEN is a highly-effective, twice-yearly injectable, which makes adherence easier and delivery more discreet. For adolescents and young adults grappling with access barriers, stigma, and the daily challenges of staying on treatment, LEN isn’t just a new drug — it’s a game-changer.

Similar to a hackathon, during this three-day, intensive sprint, teams work together to design and present their ideas. Eight semifinalist teams — selected from nearly 40 proposals for their innovative solutions — sharpened their project ideas using the guidance and support they have received from experts throughout the sprint. On the final day, teams delivered five-minute pitches to a panel of judges, fielding tough questions and defending their visions. Additionally, each team submitted a PLAN (People Learning, Adapting & Nurturing) diagram and executive summary.

After a careful and intense deliberation, three teams were selected for their originality, relevance, feasibility and scalability. These teams were awarded seed funding to pilot or implement their winning project ideas. Over the course of the next year, these teams will work with INSPIRE and their affiliated PATC³H-IN Clinical Research Center to bring their strategies to life.

Despite the progress made so far in preventing the transmission and care for HIV patients access Africa, access to these services are big issues, making it impossible to reach our young people. This designathon is dedicated to develop creative ideas on how to scale up and sustain HIV interventions for adolescents and young adults.

– Juliet Iwelunmor, INSPIRE Director

Three Winning Designathon Teams

All eight designathon teams pose with INSPIRE team members and coaches from the event.

Designathon participants and supporting faculty and staff

Team Hair Salon embraces INSPIRE Director Juliet Iwelunmor

Designathon Sprint judges

Meet the winning teams

Hair Salon

South Africa | ATTUNE

Team Hair Salon is comprised of Kananelo Lehlohonolo Moshabesha, Mamaswatsi Pearl Kopeka, Charné Petinger and Yolanda Mayman. They seek to address the critical gap in youth-friendly, stigma-free, and trusted access points for HIV prevention information and services by shifting access from clinical spaces to trusted, community-based environments, improving the acceptability, accessibility, and uptake of Lenacapavir among adolescent girls and young women. Their unique approach involves using braiding salons, which are existing community-spaces, as venues for delivering information about LEN without the stigma associated with healthcare facilities, and with the help of trained trusted stylists. Hair Salon is reimagining HIV prevention delivery by shifting the conversation from clinical to personal.

It was a dynamic experience with dynamic people. It facilitated growth… All of us (the teams) were talking and brainstorming amongst each other.

– Charné Petinger, Hair Salon

Team NEXUS

Nigeria | iCARE Plus

Team Nexus consists of Sulaimon Afeez Olatunji, Offor Gab-Cliton Nwakobi, Oluwafemi Adeshina, and Hannah O. Smart. Their project — SafePass Lagos — aims to pilot a gamified youth-centered LEN delivery model that can be replicated across Africa. SafePass is designed for young men who engage with sex with men and currently have an HIV-negative status. In a system that does not consider this particularly vulnerable population, which is at a 16-times higher risk for contracting HIV, SafePass has been built with the input of its target community. This community faces daily pill adherence burden, stigma and discrimination, and delayed care — all contributing to low PrEP rentention. The SafePass app aims to overcome logistical barriers — like low bandwidth — and structural barriers — like criminalization — with a privacy-first design that work on slow Internet networks. The app takes specific problems such as patients fearing their name being called in waiting rooms and targets them with concrete solutions such as anonymous check-in with a QR code. Team Nexus has proposed a scalable solution that addresses the unique needs of its community and offers actionable solutions.

Team MyCare

Nigeria | S-ITEST

Team MyCare —Mobilizing Youth On Campuses For Lenacapavir Access, Uptake, and Referral — is Johnson Davidson Chukwuemeka, Olaoluwaposi Ogunlana, Halimat Olaniyan, and Victor Oluwafemi Femi-Lawal. Their project address the access gap young people in Nigeria face by designing with youth, rather than just for them. They do this by co-creating culturally-relevant materials, promoting on school campuses and other youth-friendly spaces, using a WhatsApp referral system, and deploying 30 trained and trusted peer influencers to drive the conversation. The project works when students scan a QR code on a poster to confidentially message MyCare on WhatsApp. The student is connected with a competent peer navigator who conducts a brief risk assessment and provides stigma-free information. The student is then linked to a trusted facility for a LEN screening and care. Team MyCare redefines how we deliver public health to young people through a scalable blueprint that meets youth where they are.

For me and my team, MyCare, the Designathon was a transformative experience. From learning about co-creation methods to the opportunity to gain insights from implementation science experts, I felt empowered about the ability of young people to be a part of the solution to the HIV epidemic in Africa.

-Victor Oluwafemi Femi-Lawal, Team MyCare

Meet the 2026 Designathon Teams

by Emily Hickner | Apr 14, 2026 | INSPIRE Designathon, Learning Core

This May, eight teams will travel to Lagos, Nigeria for INSPIRE’s three-day Designathon Sprint to hone and pitch their ideas on scaling up lenacapavir (LEN) for youth-centered HIV prevention and care across Africa. These teams represent four African countries and six PATC³H-IN clinical research centers. They were selected by a review team of experts from nearly 40 submissions to our open call for proposals. Their proposals were judged on:

Proposal clarity and logic
Significance- relevance, impact, projected outcomes
Innovation
Feasibility and rigor
Team capacity, professional goals, and composition

Teams will spend two days learning from experts in the field and refining their ideas. On the third and final day of the sprint, teams will pitch their ideas to a panel of judges for the opportunity to be one of three teams awarded up to US$10,000 to implement their project ideas over the course of a year.

Read on to learn about these teams and their exciting project ideas.

Meet the Teams

BioSecure

Nigeria | RISE

Hassan Oladipupo Ismail | Ighorodge Victory Christopher

As medical students and youth leaders, BioSecure recognizes that biological efficacy means little without last-mile delivery. Their project — BioSecure: Pulse — aims to decouple PrEP delivery from congested, stigmatized healthcare facilities by shifting delivery directly to the community level. This project leverages an offline-first, multi-sectoral digital logistics platform to transform community pharmacies into discreet, last-mile delivery nodes for youth. To maximize youth integration, users access the service branded as “Sexual Wellness & Lifestyle Protection” rather than a clinical HIV program. They book discreet time slots to minimize wait times and visibility, while a gamified “Pulse Points” system incentivizes their crucial six-month return visits with immediate rewards like data bundles.

Hair salon

South Africa | ATTUNE

Kananelo Lehlohonolo Moshabesha | Mamaswatsi Pearl Kopeka | Charné Petinger | Yolanda Mayman

Adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) in South Africa are at a disproportionately higher risk of acquiring HIV than their male counterparts. This inequity is caused by a myriad of structural and cultural factors that impact the burden on AGYW. Despite the elevated risk, AGYW are hesitant to use PrEP. There is a need for trusted community-based, stigma-free spaces that provide accurate information about PrEP and link young people to LEN. Team Hair Salon seeks to use the salon space for providing access to information about LEN without the stigma associated with healthcare facilities, and with the help of trained trusted stylists.

PeerLEN Tanzania

Tanzania | MWOTAJI

Winfrida Onesmo Akyoo | Raphael Ruseke | Frank Immanuel Mhando | Haji Rajabu Mushi

PeerLEN Tanzania aims to co-design and implement a peer-led LEN delivery model tailored for adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) ages 18–30 who work in hospitality and entertainment venues in Dar es Salaam. This population faces barriers — including stigma, mobility, economic dependence, pill burden, and daily dosing fatigue — which have historically undermined adherence to daily oral PrEP. Guided by the Exploration, Preparation, Implementation, Sustainment framework and grounded in Social Cognitive Theory and the Andersen Behavioral Model, PeerLEN’s intervention integrates peer modeling, community engagement, and facility-based clinical delivery. By embedding LEN delivery within trusted youth social networks rather than parallel health systems, PeerLEN Tanzania will produce a scalable, sustainable model adaptable across African urban settings.

SafeSix

Uganda | MUJHU

Wandera Uthmaan Muluga | Namatovu Angella | MUSOKI DRAKE | MWEMEKE OSCAR

SafeSix works at the intersection of frontline HIV service delivery and research. Their low-cost, peer-anchored intervention is designed to support young adults in African settings to maintain their six-month LEN injection schedule for HIV prevention. The project uses a peer-anchored continuity package, including reminders from a trained peer and a neutral appointment card to protect privacy and reduce stigma. This model is designed to integrate seamlessly into existing youth-friendly clinics and community services. SafeSix addresses the core implementation challenge of long-acting HIV prevention — ensuring young people consistently return for injections and remain protected over time. The team’s long-term goal is to develop and test delivery innovations that can be integrated into sustainable prevention programs.

Team Catalyst

Nigeria | iCARE PLUS

Adeniyi Olayinka Abidemi | AMAO ADEBAYO OLAWUWO | Olayemi Tosin Akinpelu | Isaac-Ironondu Mmeli Victory

Team Catalyst’s proposed project — LENApp — aims to prototype a digitally enabled, peer-powered ecosystem that transforms how adolescents and young adults engage with PrEP—shifting from clinic-centered delivery to youth-centered access. The team plans to work with existing HIV and PrEP programs across the six geopolitical zones of Nigeria to identify and reach out to young people who are eligible for LEN via peer navigators. Those who start LEN will gain access to the mobile platform, which will send them appointment reminders, provide health information, and allow users to report side effects or ask questions confidentially. Lastly, the team will bring LEN closer to young people by offering it in adolescent-friendly clinics, community outreaches, and safe spaces.

Team MyCare

Nigeria | S-ITEST

Johnson Davidson Chukwuemeka | Olaoluwaposi Ogunlana | Halimat Olaniyan | Victor Oluwafemi Femi-Lawal

Team MyCare’s experience working with adolescents and young adults has taught them the importance of involving young people in designing delivery models. Their project will test a youth-led communication and peer navigation approach embedded within university campuses and linked to pharmacies and youth-friendly centres. By adapting the peer navigator model and expanding access points beyond traditional key population networks, their approach strengthens awareness, improves confidential linkage, and situates LEN within broader HIV prevention services. Because similar structural barriers exist across many African countries, this model offers a practical pathway for integrating LEN into youth-centered HIV care across the region.

Team NEXUS

Nigeria | ICARE PLUS

Oluwafemi Adeshina | SULAIMON AFEEZ OLATUNJI | Hannah Olumayomikun Smart | Offor Gab-cliton Nwakobi

Team Nexus’ project — SafePass Lagos — aims to pilot a gamified youth-centered LEN delivery model that can be replicated across Africa. Using an anonymous mobile app, Team Nexus will enroll at-risk youth via peer networks and conduct telehealth HIV screenings. Eligible participants receive an initial LEN dose at the clinic and a weekly reminder system with incentives to enable them to return for the second dose in six months. Each weekly check-in earns points redeemable for essentials (data bundles, transport vouchers, etc.), leveraging evidence that even small financial rewards greatly boost adherence. Using data collected through SafePass, Team Nexus aims to generate an open-source toolkit showing how to integrate LEN into existing youth programs.

Team REACH

Nigeria | S-ITEST

Olowu James Ochoyoda | EDIONWE MIRACLE OSASENAGA | Ruth Yetunde Daniel | Idoko Philip

Team REACH is committed to bridging the gap between biomedical innovation and implementation for adolescents and young adults in Nigeria. Evidence from prior HIV prevention rollouts shows that biomedical innovations frequently reach adolescents and marginalized youth last when delivery systems remain clinic centered. Team REACH seeks to address this challenge through their Youth-Integrated Lenacapavir Delivery Model (Y-LAP). Y-LAP utilizes peer ambassador-led awareness; risk screening on digital engagement platforms, pop-up and mobile clinics operating as extensions of licensed facilities in trusted youth spaces; and trained navigators to support return visits. This integrated model reduces structural barriers to access while maintaining clinical quality and regulatory compliance.

When Data Isn’t Enough: Listening to Youth Living With HIV

by Emily Hickner | Mar 10, 2026 | Learning Core

Written by: Damilola Ayowole, Temitope Oluwadare, Soneye Islamiat & Azees Ayotunde | Team Abeokuta, Nigeria

We have spent years working with numbers, prevalence rates, treatment coverage, viral suppression targets. Data shapes how we understand HIV, how we design programs, and how we measure success. Yet, during the designathon that birthed HIV-In-Colors, we confronted a difficult truth: data alone does not tell the full story of adolescents and young people living with HIV.

That realization became both the greatest challenge and the most important lesson of this project.

The challenge: when evidence feels incomplete

As public health physicians, we are trained to trust evidence. Surveys, indicators, and clinical outcomes guide our decisions. But as we began designing HIV-In-Colors, we felt an uncomfortable gap between what the data said and what young people actually lived.

The numbers told us that adolescents were on treatment. They did not tell us how it felt to hide medication from friends, to fear disclosure at school, or to internalize stigma long after a clinic visit ended. The data showed retention rates; it did not show shame, silence, or resilience.

At the designathon, our initial instinct was to “strengthen psychosocial support” in familiar ways, add counseling sessions, integrate screening tools, train providers. These ideas were evidence-based, but they were also top-down. We were designing for young people, not with them.

That was our first major challenge: unlearning professional certainty.

Learning to listen differently

The designathon forced us to slow down and listen, not through questionnaires, but through stories. Conversations with fellow participants, mentors, and youth advocates pushed us to ask a different question: What if young people could show us their experiences instead of explaining them?

That question reshaped the project.

Photovoice emerged not simply as a research method, but as a listening tool we needed to learn. The idea that adolescents could use images to document stigma, hope, isolation, or healing shifted the balance of power. Instead of extracting information, we created space for expression.

This approach challenged us deeply. As researchers, we value structure, defined tools, measurable outcomes, clear endpoints. Photovoice resists rigidity. It is emotional, unpredictable, and deeply personal. It demanded trust: trust in participants, trust in the process, and trust that meaning could emerge without being forced.

The designathon lesson: Youth are not just beneficiaries

One of the most powerful lessons from the designathon was realizing that youth expertise is not symbolic, it is practical. When adolescents and young people living with HIV became central to the design conversation, the intervention evolved in ways we had not anticipated.

Healing circles, for example, were initially framed as group therapy sessions. Youth feedback transformed them into something broader: safe, recurring spaces for shared silence, laughter, anger, and belonging. The emphasis shifted from “intervention delivery” to community formation.

We learned that stigma is not only external. Many young people spoke about stigma they had absorbed into their self-identity. No survey captured that adequately. Their stories did.

Listening also revealed constraints we might otherwise have overlooked, fear of being photographed, concerns about confidentiality, emotional fatigue. These realities shaped our ethical safeguards and implementation strategies far more effectively than any protocol draft.

When impact is not immediately measurable

Another challenge was resisting the urge to define success too narrowly. In public health, we often prioritize quick wins and easily measurable outcomes. But psychosocial healing does not follow linear timelines.

Some lessons from HIV-In-Colors were subtle: a participant speaking for the first time in a group, someone choosing a metaphor instead of words, another deciding not to share an image publicly, and feeling empowered by that choice.

The designathon helped us recognize that process itself can be impact. Creating a safe space is not a precursor to intervention; it is the intervention.

This reframing was uncomfortable. It required us to accept outcomes that are harder to quantify but no less real.

What we will carry forward

Looking back, the most important lesson from HIV-In-Colors is this: programs fail when we confuse participation with inclusion. Inviting youth to attend sessions is not the same as inviting them to shape meaning.

Listening requires surrender of expertise, of timelines, of control. But it also creates interventions that breathe, adapt, and endure.

The designathon strengthened our belief that innovation in HIV care does not always mean new technology or complex systems. Sometimes, it means creating space for young people to be seen, heard, and trusted as narrators of their own lives.

As we move forward with this project and others, we carry a quieter confidence. We still value data deeply, but we now ask different questions of it. We look for the stories it misses and the voices it cannot capture.

Because when it comes to adolescents and young people living with HIV, listening is not optional, it is the work.

Meet the 2026 INSPIRE Course Cohort

by Emily Hickner | Mar 10, 2026 | Learning Core

Congratulations to our 2026 Appreciative Inquiry-Based D&I Course cohort for completing our five-week course — Innovative D&I Approaches: Appreciative Inquiry and Discrete Choice Experiments! This year’s course focused on designing and applying Discrete Choice Experiments to sustain evidence-based HIV programs for adolescents and young adults in resource-constrained settings. After an expert review process, eight participants were chosen from more than 75 applicants to represent each PATC³H-IN clinical research center. Over five weeks, participants learned about the principles of appreciative inquiry and implemntation science and were trained on how to administer, apply, and analyze discrete choice experiments.

Over the remainder of their year with INSPIRE, course participants will serve as liaisons for a shared discrete choice experiment at their respective PATC³H-IN clinical research centers. They will go through the ethical review process, collect and analyze data, and contribute to a manuscript on the experiment.

We were more used to quantitative studies before now. Then we began to understand appreciate that mixed-method studies were better and richer than simple quantitative studies. It was a profound excitement for me to discover in this course something called “DCE” (Discrete Choice Experiments)… Taking this course will take you to another level in research.

-2026 Course participant

Meet the cohort

Sonnen Atinge | iCARE Plus

Sonnen Atinge is a Nigerian public health physician, epidemiologist, and researcher dedicated to improving health outcomes for people living with HIV through clinical care and research across prevention, treatment, and support services. He holds an MBBS from the University of Maiduguri, a Master of Public Health, and a Master of Science in Public Health–Epidemiology from the University of Lagos. He is also a Fellow of the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria in Public Health and Community Medicine. In 2023, he completed, with distinction, the NIH-funded Emory-Nigeria HIV Research Training Program at Emory University, where he received advanced training in biostatistics, research ethics, and data management and analysis.

Sonnen Atinge is a lecturer in the Department of Public Health and Community Medicine at the Federal University Wukari, Taraba State. He also serves as a co-investigator on the iCARE Nigeria Plus effectiveness–implementation hybrid study, a scale-up program evaluating youth-focused HIV interventions among young men who have sex with men and young transgender women. In this role, he oversees outreach activities, HIV testing services, and local surveillance data collection.

Earlier in his career, Sonnen Atinge led a district hospital in a hard-to-reach border region and helped establish a comprehensive HIV/AIDS center with support from FHI 360, expanding access to care for previously underserved communities. He has also worked as an ART clinician at the tertiary level and has authored 26 peer-reviewed publications. He is committed to advancing HIV research and developing as an independent researcher and mentor to emerging scholars in Nigeria.

Doreen Kemigisha | MU-JHU

Doreen Kemigisha is a social worker and public health professional with over 15 years of experience in HIV prevention among adolescents, women at increased risk, and their partners in sub-Saharan Africa, particularly Uganda. She holds a Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Public Health with a focus on Health Promotion and has completed additional training at the University of Washington in epidemiology for global health, global mental health, project management in global health, and implementation science.

Her career reflects a strong commitment to community engagement and behavioral research. She has progressed from field recruitment and health visiting to senior leadership roles in community engagement and qualitative research coordination. As a Community Engagement Lead, she has supervised teams of community educators and implemented evidence-based strategies for multiple research protocols, including stakeholder and Community Advisory Board engagement, community mapping, mobilization, and tailored recruitment and retention approaches. Her work has strengthened partnerships between communities and research teams while promoting ethical participation in studies.

Grounded in social work and public health, her approach emphasizes empathy, cultural sensitivity, and community empowerment. She is dedicated to translating community voices into research and policy that advance equitable access to HIV prevention and improve health outcomes in Uganda and beyond.

Aishat Adedoyin Koledowo | S-ITEST

Aishat Adedoyin Koledowo is a public health professional and advocate for youth health empowerment with interests spanning infectious disease prevention, epidemiology, reproductive health, and behavior change. Her work focuses on improving health outcomes for diverse populations, particularly adolescents and young adults, through evidence-based and youth-centered approaches.

She holds a Bachelor of Science in Public Health from Lead City University and is currently pursuing a Master of Public Health. Koledowo serves as a Research Officer at the Lagos State Health Management Agency, where she supports the design and implementation of evidence-based interventions that strengthen health systems and improve service delivery across Lagos State. Her role includes contributing to research and data-informed strategies that enhance program effectiveness and population health outcomes.

In addition to her professional work, she is a Youth Ambassador with 4 Youth By Youth, where she leads HIV/AIDS awareness initiatives and promotes HIV self-testing and healthy behaviors among young people. Through targeted outreach and youth-focused advocacy, she has contributed to increased HIV testing uptake and greater awareness of preventive health practices among adolescents and youth.

Yolanda Mayman | ATTUNE

Yolanda Mayman is a final-year PhD candidate at the School of Public Health, University of the Western Cape, whose work focuses on adolescent health, HIV, and the systemic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic in South Africa. With a background in research psychology, she brings an interdisciplinary lens to public health research. Her doctoral work examined how the COVID-19 pandemic and vaccine rollout influenced the mental well-being, treatment adherence, and healthcare engagement of adolescents living with HIV (ALHIV) in Cape Town. Using a multi-phase mixed-methods design, her research highlights the lived experiences, vulnerabilities, and resilience of ALHIV within complex health systems.

Yolanda Mayman has strong expertise in qualitative methodologies and has supported research capacity-building workshops and mentorship initiatives that strengthen qualitative inquiry and youth-focused HIV research. She has published five articles from her doctoral work, with another under review, and has co-authored additional papers on adolescent mental health, HIV care, and community-based participatory research. She has presented her work at major academic forums, including PHASA, CREATE, the NRF Emerging Researchers Symposium, and the SAMRC Early Scientist Convention.

Her planned postdoctoral research will explore the feasibility, acceptability, and user preferences of long-acting injectable antiretroviral therapy among adolescents in the Western Cape. Passionate about strengthening health systems for young people in Africa, Yolanda Mayman is committed to translating research into practice, mentoring emerging scholars, and advancing youth-centred, contextually grounded approaches to improving health outcomes.

Agatha Mnyippembe | MWOTAJI

Agatha Mnyippembe is a junior health researcher specializing in HIV prevention and youth sexual and reproductive health in Tanzania. She combines academic training in health monitoring and evaluation with hands-on experience in field-based project coordination to generate evidence that informs practice and policy.

Agatha Mnyippembe’s expertise includes mixed-methods research design, program monitoring, and qualitative and quantitative data management and analysis. She has experience designing and evaluating strategies to improve service uptake in resource-constrained settings, with a particular focus on youth-friendly services and HIV prevention options for young women. She also brings strong project management skills, including study operations management, supervision of field implementation, stakeholder engagement, and capacity building for local research teams.

She is currently involved in two initiatives aimed at improving healthcare access for young women. In the Malkia Klabu Program in Zanzibar, she supports a feasibility and acceptability study of a pharmacy-based model delivering girl-friendly HIV prevention and reproductive health services, coordinating data collection and contributing to analysis. She also coordinates the MWOTAJI Project (“Making Women’s Options for HIV Prevention in Tanzania Accessible”), which integrates implementation science capacity building with program delivery, research planning, scientific writing, and translation of findings into program recommendations.

Mwamba Mwenge | ZAIMARA

Mwamba Mwenge is a Zambian public health professional and early-career social and behavioral researcher with over a decade of experience implementing mental health randomized controlled trials, adolescent health studies, and evidence-based interventions in Zambia. As an implementation scientist, he has strong expertise in research design, data systems, program monitoring, and community-based mental health interventions. He holds a Master of Science in Public Health from the University of South Wales, an MBA in Management Strategy, a Bachelor of Arts in Public Administration from the University of Zambia, and a Diploma in Computing. His multidisciplinary training supports his ability to integrate public health research, program management, and digital data systems in low-resource settings.

His current work on the ZAIMARA study includes adapting adolescent health promotion materials, collaborating with adolescent community advisory boards, and designing participant monitoring frameworks, as well as building data management capacity among research staff. He previously served as a Data Manager for an NIH-funded R01 study, overseeing monitoring and evaluation tools, quality assurance, ethical compliance, and data systems. He also worked as Research Manager for the EQUIP Pilot Study, contributing to cultural adaptation of counselor competency tools and fidelity assessments.

Mwenge has progressed through roles ranging from data entry to implementation science, giving him broad insight into the research lifecycle. In 2022, he received an early-career grant from RSTMH and NIHR to study caregivers’ experiences during COVID-19. He has authored multiple peer-reviewed publications and is committed to strengthening mental health systems and advancing implementation science in Zambia and sub-Saharan Africa.

Gift Ndalumbira | RISE

Gift Ndalumbira is a public health professional with over eight years of experience implementing HIV/AIDS prevention, care, and treatment programs across diverse settings. His work focuses on strengthening health systems through quality improvement initiatives and developing sustainable solutions to improve outcomes for key and vulnerable populations affected by HIV. With both clinical and public health experience, he brings a systems-level perspective to improving service delivery at individual and population levels.

He is an emerging researcher with experience in public health research coordination and currently serves in a formal Research Coordinator role focused on evidence-based HIV interventions for sexual and gender minority youth. His interests include applying innovative research approaches to address health disparities, generate high-quality data, and inform inclusive prevention and treatment strategies in resource-limited settings.

Ndalumbira holds a Master of Public Health with a concentration in Epidemiology, which has provided strong training in research methods, data analysis, and evidence-based decision-making. He also holds a Bachelor of Science in Public Health and a Diploma in Nursing and Midwifery. This multidisciplinary background enables him to work effectively across both preventive and clinical health services. He is committed to advancing equitable, data-driven HIV programming and continuing to build his research career to support inclusive, high-impact public health interventions.

Katherine Simon | VS4A

Katherine Simon is a pediatrician with 14 years of clinical and public health experience serving underserved communities in the United States and internationally. She has been based in Malawi since 2012 with the Baylor International Pediatric AIDS Initiative (now Texas Children’s Global Health Corps), where she works as a pediatric consultant. For 11 years, she served as Medical Director of Tingathe, a PEPFAR-funded program supporting the Malawi Ministry of Health in advancing progress toward UNAIDS HIV targets.

Simon currently serves as a Senior Technical Advisor overseeing HIV care and treatment for the CORE (Client Oriented Response to achieve HIV Epidemic Control) project, a five-year, $80 million PEPFAR-funded initiative supporting 96 health facilities across six districts in Malawi. In this role, she co-leads efforts to design and implement high-quality HIV and tuberculosis services.

While primarily focused on programmatic and technical leadership, Katherine Simon has built practical research experience through operational research and program evaluation. She has collaborated with research-trained colleagues to apply quality improvement approaches—design, implement, evaluate, and redesign—to strengthen services, contributing to interventions that improved care quality and resulted in peer-reviewed publications. Her work is driven by a commitment to improving the quality of life for children and families.

From Passion to Action: Youth Advisory Board Reflections

by Emily Hickner | Aug 4, 2025 | Youth Advisory Board

The cross-PATC³H-IN Youth Advisory Board (YAB) is a central component of INSPIRE’s effort to center youth voices in the activities of PATC³H-IN. YAB members help shape PATC³H-IN’s vision by fostering youth leadership in implementation science research to enhance youth engagement and improve HIV care continuum outcomes. Our YAB consists of 16 individuals who represent the eight clinical research centers that make up the PATC³H network. Each of them brings their own professional, cultural and personal experiences to their work as a YAB member to offer insights on how to improve HIV outcomes among adolescents and young adults across Africa.

INSPIRE YAB members have been nominated by a primary investigator at the PATC³H-IN clinical research center (CRC) they represent. Members serve for a term of twelve months and may be renewed based on their interest and performance. In addition to being a member of a CRC youth advisory board, members must be between the ages of 14–35 years old, have experience with youth engagement in a PATC³H-IN country, and demonstrate enthusiasm for expanding youth engagement. If you are interested in learning more about getting involved with our YAB, contact info@inspireyouthhealth.org.

We asked three key members of our Youth Advisory Board to reflect on their experiences serving as members over their past year. YAB Co-chair Neale Nomujuni Natukwatsa (Uganda) expressed the importance of incorporating youth voices from the start, Co-chair Aishat Adedoyin Koledowo (Nigeria) brought attention to the challenges of stigma and access, and Digital Lead Stella Chinyonga (Zambia) reflected on the success of the virtual town hall organized by YAB members. Read more below on the insights they gained as youth advocates and what they would advise researchers.

Meet the YAB

What surprised you the most about your involvement in HIV research?

Aishat: I was surprised by the level of stigma and misconceptions surrounding HIV, even more so among educated individuals. My involvement in HIV research has shown me that there is still much work to be done in terms of health education, awareness, and advocacy. I’m heartened by the progress made, but I’m also motivated to continue working towards a more informed and supportive environment for people living with HIV.

Neale Nomujuni Natukwatsa: What surprised me the most about my involvement in HIV research was how consistent and cross-cutting the issues affecting youth are across different settings. Whether it’s HIV acquisition, prevention, care, or treatment, the challenges young people face range from behavioral, biomedical, and social domains. These include stigma, lifestyle factors, limited access to youth-friendly health services, mental health struggles, drug use, and socio-economic vulnerability.

What is more unique is the power of peer-led models in addressing these challenges. When youth are actively involved not just as beneficiaries but as leaders and decision makers the outcomes are more relevant, relatable, and sustainable. I’ve seen firsthand how giving youth a platform to voice their realities and shape solutions leads to stronger engagement and more effective responses.

Stella: For the past year and a half, I’ve served as a youth community advisory board member at the Centre for Infectious Disease Research in Zambia. While I’ve always been aware of HIV’s existence, I was truly shocked to learn that there are still high numbers of deaths related to HIV/AIDS in Africa. This information really grabbed me and highlighted how much work still needs to be done on the ground level to reduce AIDS mortality rates across the continent. It’s a powerful reminder that despite all the progress we’ve made, the fight is far from over, and community-level education and support are more critical than ever.

Did this experience influence your career or academic interests in any way?

Neale: This experience significantly influenced both my career and academic interests. Being involved in HIV research, especially in youth centered and peer-led approaches, opened my eyes to the deep connection between public health, community engagement, and social justice. I came to realize that meaningful impact doesn’t come from top down solutions, but from amplifying the voices of those most affected particularly young people. This has further sparked my strong interest in social sciences and public health, particularly mental health and ethics in youth affected by HIV.

Beyond academics, this experience added to my passion for youth advocacy, promoting youth leadership and health. This has also motivated me to start a career as an early career researcher where I see myself utilizing research practices that include lived experiences and local knowledge.

Stella: Learning about the high death rates from HIV/AIDS has profoundly influenced my career path. As a public health nurse, it made me realize I needed to do more to help reduce these rates. This realization deepened my commitment to my daily work as a Community Advisory Board member, and I’ve found a new sense of purpose in contributing to the fight against HIV.

I’m now fortunate to be working with INSPIRE’s YAB as Digital Lead, a fantastic opportunity where I create content to raise awareness and promote HIV treatment. This experience has solidified my passion, and I plan to further my academic studies in public health to continue making a meaningful impact.

What challenges have you faced with advocating for adolescents and young adults?

Aishat: One of the biggest challenges I’ve faced is navigating the complex needs and perspectives of adolescents and young adults. It’s essential to make a balance between being supportive and empowering while also acknowledging the unique challenges and barriers this demographic faces. Additionally, issues related to accessibility, affordability, and acceptability of HIV services, which can be particularly challenging for young people.

Neale: One of the biggest challenges I’ve faced in advocating for adolescents and young adults is the deeply rooted judgment they encounter when seeking care. Too often, health service providers interpret their needs or behaviors through a moral lens, labeling them instead of listening. This judgment especially in areas like sexual and reproductive health or HIV services creates fear and discourages many young people from seeking the support they need.

Another major challenge is the way services are structured. In many settings, adolescents and young adults are expected to access care through the same systems designed for older adults. This lack of youth-friendly spaces makes young people feel uncomfortable, especially when receiving sensitive services alongside individuals they view as parents or authority figures. It not only compromises their privacy but also affects their willingness to return for continued care.

What YAB accomplishment are you most proud of this year?

Stella: One of my proudest accomplishments this year as a leader on the Youth Advisory Board was being involved in the successful development of the manuscript—Youth strengths to sustain HIV services in Africa— and organizing a powerful town hall meeting. It was challenging, but seeing our efforts come to fruition was incredibly rewarding.

I’m also very proud of being part of the communications masterclass (organized by the INSPIRE Learning Core). This experience has significantly contributed to my career development and skill set, which I’m now applying to my work. It’s truly fulfilling to see how our collective efforts are making a real impact.

What do you wish researchers or organizations better understood about involving youth?

Aishat: I wish researchers and organizations better understood the importance of genuinely involving youth in decision-making processes (co-creation), rather than just including them in a tokenistic way. Youth bring unique perspectives and experiences that can inform the development of effective solutions. It’s essential to create spaces where youth feel valued, heard, and empowered to contribute meaningfully. This includes providing opportunities for capacity-building, mentorship, and leadership development.

Neale: Researchers and organizations need to better understand and respect the individual differences among the youth. Every young person brings unique experiences shaped by their culture, family background, and socio-economic status. There is no one-size-fits-all approach to youth engagement. Creating space for each voice to be heard without judgment opens the door for trust and follow-up dialogue that goes beyond involvement.

It’s also important to meaningfully involve youth from the start, not just at the end. Too often, young people are only consulted once decisions are already made. But adolescents and young adults carry powerful lived experiences and often have creative, practical ideas for making research and programs more relevant and impactful. They understand what works in their communities and what doesn’t because they live it every day.

When youth are invited to co-create the agenda, not just review it, they feel valued and invested. Their voices help shape more inclusive, realistic, and sustainable solutions. Respect, trust, and early involvement aren’t just good practice, they are essential for research and programming that truly reflect the realities and aspirations of young people.

Stella: I wish researchers and organizations better understood the immense value and unique contributions of youth. Young people are a central element for change, thanks to their energy and capabilities. They are a powerful driving force for research projects, especially those that address issues directly affecting them.

Adolescents and young adults possess the unique ability to communicate and influence their peers effectively, which makes them crucial for gathering accurate data and insights. Involving youth isn’t just about ticking a box; it’s about harnessing their firsthand knowledge and innovative perspectives to create more impactful and relevant research.

What piece of advice would you give future YAB members?

Aishat: My advice to future YAB members would be to be bold, be vocal, and be persistent. Don’t be afraid to share your ideas and perspectives, even if they challenge the status quo. Remember that your experiences and insights are valuable, and you have a unique perspective to bring to the table. Also, be open to learning, growing, and collaborating with others. Together, we can create meaningful change and improve the lives of young people affected by HIV.

Working closely with the Youth Advisory Board has been both inspiring and rewarding. These young leaders have shown that when young people are engaged as co-creators rather than just participants, they bring fresh perspectives, creativity, and insight that help shape HIV research and programs in meaningful ways.

Progress Agboola

INSPIRE Engagement Core Coordinator

Meet the YAB

Click on a name to learn more.

Aishat Adedoyin Koledowo | Co-Chair

S-I TEST, Nigeria

Aishat Koledowo is a public health professional with a deep commitment to youth empowerment and health equity. Her journey began as a youth advocate, where she led an impactful initiatives to promote HIV self-testing, awareness and healthy behaviors among young people. That early experience shaped her strong dedication to ensuring that every young person has access to knowledge and resources to make informed health decisions.

Over the years, Aishat has built extensive experience in research, community mobilization, stakeholder engagement, and health promotion. She has worked with diverse groups and organizations, always promoting collaboration to achieve shared goals. Her work is rooted in a strong belief in inclusive decision-making and the power of youth-focused health initiatives.

Aishat currently serves as a Research Officer at Lagos State Health Management Agency (LASHMA), where she drives evidence-based interventions to strengthen health systems. She also plays a key role as a Youth Ambassador for 4 Youth By Youth (S-ITEST), leading HIV self-testing campaigns to empower youth.

Her involvement with INSPIRE began as Co-Chair of the Youth Advisory Board, where she remains an active voice in promoting global health advocacy. Aishat continues to be a driving force for positive change, always seeking new ways to uplift and empower young people.

Outside of work, Aishat enjoys mentoring youth and exploring innovative health strategies.

Neale Nomujuni Natukwatsa | Co-chair

MUJHU, Uganda

Nomujuni Neale Natukwatsa is a dedicated healthcare provider, youth advocate, counselor, teacher, and early-career researcher with a deep passion for adolescent health, HIV prevention, and mental health wellness. He serves as Head of YAB with IDRC/MUJHU and as Co-Chair of the INSPIRE Youth Advisory Board, where he champions meaningful youth engagement in health policy and programming. Nomujuni works closely with Uganda’s Ministry of Health as an Associate under the Young Adolescent Peer Support program, shaping national strategies that prioritize the voices and needs of young people.

With multidisciplinary expertise, Nomujuni brings a grounded understanding of the real-life challenges adolescents face in navigating healthcare. His work includes co-creating community-based solutions such as peer navigation, advising on youth-centered study design, facilitating consultations and public dialogues, co-developing tailored interventions, and strengthening referral pathways. Through research, advocacy, and collaboration, he is committed to building inclusive, ethical, and responsive systems—proving that youth are not just participants, but powerful leaders of change.

Stella Chinyonga | Digital Lead

ZAIMARA, Zambia

Stella Chinyonga is a devoted public health nurse with passion in health advocacy. She has made significant strides in promoting health and wellness in underserved communities. With experience as a volunteer nurse and programs manager at Tabene youth Advocacy Network, Stella developed and implemented impactful HIV/AIDS prevention programs. She currently serves as a Digital Lead for the INSPIRE Youth Advisory Board, leading the Youth Advocates for Change initiatives to amplify youth voices in implementation science. Her work has been recognized by the Center for Infectious Disease Research in Zambia (CIDRZ) for outstanding efforts in HIV/AIDS advocacy and was appointed as one of the youth community advisory board representative. Stella’s passion lies in improving health outcomes and empowering communities, particularly in HIV/AIDS prevention and management. She is committed to making a lasting impact and collaborating with like-minded individuals to create positive change.

Beene Chitempa

ZAIMARA, Zambia

Beene Chitempa is a nurse by profession with a passion for empowering young people to make informed health decisions. With experience in teaching, facilitation, community engagement, and data management, she has worked with diverse groups to drive positive change. Her journey began as a peer educator, creating safe spaces for youth to discuss sexual and reproductive health.

Beene has served as a Training Coordinator on the Southern Africa Accelerated Innovation Delivery Initiative (AID-I), promoting climate resilience among young women and youth in rural communities. As a CIDRZ Executive Committee Member and INSPIRE YAB member, she advocates for youth voices in all stages of project implementation. Throughout her career, she has championed women and youth focused initiatives, emphasizing inclusive decision making and amplifying marginalized voices.

Asanele Ndevu

ATTUNE, South Africa

Godswill Nwoha Chisom

S-I TEST, Nigeria

Godswill Nwoha Chisom is a passionate healthcare professional and youth advocate with over four years of experience in community outreach, program coordination, and peer education. Currently pursuing a degree in Guidance and Counselling at the University of Abuja, he has served as a counselor, HTS focal person, and peer educator at Kuje General Hospital. He is the Assistant Program Coordinator at Beyond Development for Africa Youth Advancement Initiative, S-I Test Ambassador for the 4YBY project, and CEO of Zoommax Cleaning and Delivery Services. Godswill has led several successful outreaches with AHF, championed youth-friendly initiatives, and has a strong track record in monitoring and reporting. His dedication, leadership, and communication skills make him a valuable asset to any cause or organization.

Raine Alamanya Renatus

MWOTAJI, Tanzania

Esther Mangadzuwa

VS4A, Malawi

Rukia Hassan

MWOTAJI, Tanzania

Nicolas Shima Aernan

RISE, Nigeria

Pimer Clare

MUJHU, Uganda

Pimer Clare is a student doing secretarial and office management work. Pimer is interested in creating youth awareness of HIV/AIDS. In addition to serving as a youth advisory board member for INSPIRE, Pimer serves as a peer and community advisory board member at Kagadi hospital under HIV prevention department

Desderata Mlachila

VS4A, Malawi

Desderata Mlachila is a well-disciplined, focused and self motivated with good interpersonal and communication skills. An innovative and creative person who quickly learns new skills and embraces changes, she has a passion for serving others on leading roles. A major achievement in her life was managing to advise children who had high viral loads that are now suppressed. Desderata loves my work and it is her wish to reach out the needy and those who fail to take drugs so that they can adhere and achieve viral suppression.

Chinedu Mbah

iCARE Plus, Nigeria

Hezekiah Samuel

iCARE Plus, Nigeria

Philip Chinseu

RISE, Nigeria

Thandekile "Tiny" Thusini

ATTUNE, South Africa

Thandekile “Tiny” Thusini is a leader, facilitator, public speaker, and human rights activist from KwaZulu Natal, Pietermaritzburg, in South Africa. She is a conversationalist passionate about youth empowerment and community development. She serves as a director of UMBONO NPO; a chairperson for Home of Hope Youth Foundation, a 2025 SunshineCinema Spark impact facilitator; Youth Advisory Board member in AHISA(SA) For Youth Adolescent Research in HIV; and a youth reporter at Sinomlando Centre and former radio presenter at UMgungundlovu FM local radio station.

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