Meet the New INSPIRE Youth Advisory Board Leadership Team for Year 2

Meet the New INSPIRE Youth Advisory Board Leadership Team for Year 2

by | Nov 24, 2025 | Youth Advisory Board

The CROSS PATC³H-IN Youth Advisory Board (YAB) is thrilled to begin a new chapter as it welcomes a vibrant and passionate leadership team for Year 2. This year’s transition brings both renewal and continuity: the YAB Co-Chairs were reelected by the YAB CRC members following a thorough review of their applications, reaffirming confidence in their leadership, while the Digital Lead was newly selected through the same rigorous process. Together, this team reinforces our commitment to ensuring that young people remain at the center of efforts to end HIV. The YAB continues to be a driving force for youth advocacy, uniting young leaders whose creativity, lived experiences, and fresh perspectives shape the future of HIV prevention, care, and research.

Leading this year’s team is re-elected Co-Chair Aishat Adedoyin Koledowo from S-I TEST, Nigeria. With a strong background in public health, particularly in infectious diseases and reproductive health research, Aishat has consistently championed youth empowerment and health equity. Now in her second year with the YAB, she remains committed to equipping young people with the knowledge, access, and confidence they need to take charge of their health. Her dedication ensures that youth voices are not only heard but meaningfully embedded in strategic decisions that impact communities across the continent.

Joining her as Co-Chair is re-elected Neale Nomujuni Natukwatsa from MUJHU, Uganda. Neale brings extensive experience in youth leadership, public health, and policy advocacy, along with a deep passion for inclusive youth participation. Known for advancing health rights and social accountability, he is committed to guiding the board’s strategic vision and fostering strong collaboration among members. Together, Aishat and Neale are well positioned to lead the YAB in ways that keep young people at the forefront of HIV-related initiatives across the PATC³H-IN project and its partner networks.

The leadership team also welcomes new digital lead, Nathan Raven from RISE, Kenya as Digital Lead. With a background in fine arts and design, Nathan brings a unique creative spark to the Board. His passion for storytelling and community impact aligns closely with the YAB’s mission of elevating youth voices through digital platforms. Beyond his artistic skill, he aims to bridge communication and advocacy by offering fresh ideas and authentic insights that reflect the realities of young people. His role will be central in leveraging digital tools to share youth stories, amplify key messages, and inspire collective action.

This new leadership team embodies the YAB’s core values of youth-led innovation and shared leadership. Together, they represent a vision where young people are not passive participants but active drivers of change in HIV advocacy, research, and policy. In the year ahead, the YAB plans to deepen youth engagement, strengthen networks, and address ongoing challenges such as stigma, misinformation, and limited access to care.

As the PATC³H-IN Youth Advisory Board begins another impactful year, the energy and dedication of its leadership promise new opportunities for growth, transformation, and meaningful progress. Their continued efforts will amplify youth voices and inspire change across communities.

Youth voices in action: Highlights from the YAB town hall meeting

Youth voices in action: Highlights from the YAB town hall meeting

by | May 20, 2025 | Youth Advisory Board

Contributor:

Stella Chinyonga, Public Health Nurse and Health Advocate and Digital Lead, INSPIRE Youth Advisory Board

On 26 April 2025, INSPIRE’s Cross-PATC³H-IN Youth Advisory Board (YAB) hosted a dynamic virtual town hall meeting themed “Our Future, Our Fight: Youth, Resilience, and HIV/AIDS in Africa”. INSPIRE continues to champion youth-led action in health and implementation science. This town hall created a space for open dialogue and collaboration, giving young people the opportunity to share experiences, propose solutions, and lead the conversation around HIV/AIDS in Africa.

Centering Youth Perspectives

In the lead-up to the town hall, young people aged 10 to 30 from various African countries participated in an anonymous survey. This survey captured insights on HIV status, support group affiliations, and personal experiences with stigma, youth-led initiatives, and the impact of funding gaps.

The results clearly reflected a growing demand for inclusive platforms, accessible services, and youth-driven responses to HIV. Participants expressed a strong desire to lead with creativity, compassion, and courage in the face of ongoing challenges.

Framing the Conversation

The event opened with an overview of the work and mission of the Cross-PATC³H- IN Youth Advisory Board. Professor Joseph Tucker provided key reflections on how recent USAID funding cuts have affected youth-centered HIV programs. He emphasized the critical need for adaptability, innovation, and continued youth engagement to sustain momentum in the face of reduced resources.

 

Breakout Sessions: Shaping Solutions Together

Participants engaged in breakout sessions focused on three major themes: stigma reduction, youth engagement, and innovative financing.

In the stigma reduction session, facilitator Neale Nomujuni led an open discussion on how stigma manifests in the lives of adolescents and young adults. Participants explored the emotional, social, and institutional barriers created by self-stigma, external stigma, and secondary stigma. They highlighted the urgent need to dismantle misconceptions and harmful narratives, and emphasized the power of storytelling, peer support, and open conversation in breaking down stigma.

The youth engagement session, facilitated by Aisha Adedoyin, explored how young people can meaningfully participate in HIV prevention, treatment, and advocacy. Participants emphasized the importance of leveraging digital platforms like TikTok, creating safe spaces for youth leadership, and providing the tools, education, and resources needed to equip young people as advocates. Recognizing and celebrating youth achievements was also seen as a powerful motivator for continued involvement.

Progress Agboola led the session on innovative financing, focusing on sustainable ways to support youth-led HIV initiatives. Discussions highlighted the effectiveness of community savings groups, crowdfunding, and digital fundraising platforms in promoting local ownership and expanding reach. Participants also discussed the need for strategic partnerships with organizations committed to youth health and development.

Reflections and Strategic Directions

The town hall concluded with a strong sense of momentum and a collective vision for the future. Participants agreed on the importance of creative communication to challenge stigma—using radio, social media, and peer education to drive change.

There was also consensus on the need to mobilize local resources to reduce dependency on external funding and to support sustainability. Strengthening communication and advocacy skills among youth leaders was recognized as essential to building visibility and influence. The need for comprehensive, age-appropriate sexual and reproductive health education and consistent funding for youth-led programming was underscored throughout the discussions.

 

Looking Ahead

This town hall marked a powerful moment in INSPIRE’s ongoing work to center youth in the HIV response. It reaffirmed that young people are not just participants—they are pioneers. By investing in their leadership, ideas, and lived experiences, we build more inclusive, resilient, and impactful responses to HIV/AIDS.

As INSPIRE continues to promote youth leadership across the continent, the outcomes of this town hall will inform our strategies, shape our collaborations, and fuel the next phase of youth-led change.

When youth are given the space and support to lead, they do not just raise their voices—they transform systems.