UNITED! Movement

🚨Attention youth-led orgs! Help us review, strengthen, and endorse the U=U Youth Manifesto. Your support will help amplify a global youth-led call for dignity, access and stigma-free HIV care - to be presented at #AIDS2026. 📝 Sign on by 22 May 2026 👉🏼 forms.gle/cVeevqA3HkG55H…

Flipping Tokenism into Inclusion: Meet @EmojelTrevor from UG as he tells his Story. Trevor’s journey with UNITED! began in 2023—sparking a mission to end tokenism in youth advocacy. Today, he’s shaping decisions, amplifying youth voices. #UNITEDMovementESA @UNITEDMoveESA

Catch-up with some of our members in their reflections on what the AUDA-NEPAD 1st Continental Conference for Non-State Actors on Demographic Dividend & Reproductive Health meant to them. #UNITEDMovementESA #equippedforchange #demographicdividend #youthleadership

Young people in Eastern and Southern Africa are shifting from fragmented advocacy to a unified regional voice. By participating in decision-making, youth are ensuring that policies and service delivery directly respond to their specific needs regarding HIV and sexual reproductive health. The United Movement fosters this coordinated effort to ensure that decision-makers across the region hear a consistent message from the youth. Hear what Cyprian has to say. #UNITEDMovementESA #youthadvocacy #youthvoices #equippedforchange #unitedmovement

Flipping Tokenism into Inclusion: Emojel’s Story (Uganda) Trevor’s journey with the UNITED! Movement began in 2023 at the UNITED! Leadership Summit where young leaders from across the ESA region came together to break silos and unite around HIV, SRHR, and youth advocacy. That moment sparked something bigger. Driven by the gap in meaningful youth participation, Trevor has been pushing beyond tokenism, advocating for young people to not just be present, but to actively shape decisions that affect their lives. Through UNITED!, doors once closed are opening. From moderating high-level panels with government ministers to engaging in regional platforms, Trevor has grown into a stronger, more confident leader, grounded in accountability and impact. At country level, he’s seen the power of bringing youth-led organisations together, creating spaces where collaboration thrives and young voices lead the conversation. Exposure across the region has also strengthened his vision, pushing for better investment, stronger systems, and youth-centred solutions. #YouthLeadership #UNITEDMovementESA #VoicesOfTheMovement

Believing in a Young Survivor: Ravel’s Story (Burundi) Ravel Gatoto’s journey started with what he witnessed growing up in Burundi; rising HIV infections, limited access to services, and few safe spaces for young people. As a young person living with HIV, he knew something had to change. Today, through Homeward and the UNITED! Movement, Ravel is championing economic empowerment for young people, especially communities affected by HIV because dignity starts with independence. What began as a learning opportunity in 2023 quickly grew into regional leadership. From feeling uncertain in new spaces to chairing meetings and shaping programmes, Ravel found his voice and his power. Now, he’s building pathways for others, proving that youth belong at the centre of solutions. “I want to create opportunities where none existed before.” #youthleadership #UNITEDMovementESA #voicesofthemovement

This is what happens when young people stop working in silos and start showing up together. Through the UNITED! Movement, Country Representatives convened youth-led networks working in HIV, SRHR, other intersecting issues & youth advocates in 7 ESA countries with various stakeholders such as the Ministry of Health, UN Agencies amongst others to tackle the issues that actually matter. Issues of high new HIV infections rates amongst young people, teenage pregnancy, maternal health, limited access to youth-friendly services and youth unemployment. The UNITED! Movement is proving that regional & country-level collaboration works. We’re talking mentorship. Resource sharing. Real advocacy. And a platform where young voices don’t just echo but they lead. 🎥 Watch & hear how we’re driving youth-led change and collaboration, together. #UNITEDMovementESA #youthleadership #unitedmovement #equippedforchange

From Silent Witness to Bold Advocate: Evelyn’s Story (Zambia) Before stepping into formal advocacy, Evelyn was already listening. Volunteering at a clinic during her psychology studies, she saw the gaps, stigma, limited support for young people living with HIV, and a lack of youth-friendly services. That’s when it became personal and purposeful. Through the Zambia Network for Young People Living with HIV and the UNITED! Movement, Evelyn found her voice and a powerful community. What started small grew into collective, data-driven advocacy, connecting her with youth leaders across the region and strengthening her impact. Today, she’s not just advocating, she’s shaping systems. With stronger confidence, skills, and a belief in collective action, Evelyn is pushing for youth-centred solutions in Zambia and beyond. “Young people are not just beneficiaries, we are leaders. And our voices are essential for Africa’s progress.” #youthleadership #UNITEDMovementESA #voicesofthemovement

Finding the Courage to Take Up Space: Adrian’s Story (Zimbabwe) Adrian Wela’s advocacy journey began with a search for belonging. Growing up queer in Zimbabwe, he faced stigma, exclusion, and spaces that often made him feel unseen. Those experiences shaped a powerful goal: to become the support he once needed for others. In 2024, Adrian joined the UNITED! Movement ESA as part of the first Youthfluencer cohort, drawn to its commitment to youth leadership & youth-led safe spaces. There, he found his voice, speaking openly about the realities faced by LGBTQ+ young people and helping shift narratives around key populations. Through regional platforms, Adrian began contributing to conversations shaping HIV and SRHR responses. Sharing his perspective in a regional webinar was a turning point. It was the first time he truly felt heard, reinforcing that youth voices are not optional, but essential. The experience sharpened his advocacy approach, helping him think more strategically about reaching overlooked communities. Today, Adrian champions youth-led solutions, believing young people must shape the policies that affect their lives. His vision is simple but powerful: “a future rooted in dignity, inclusion, and kindness.” Where every young person in Zimbabwe can live freely, safely, and unapologetically. #UNITEDMovementESA #voicesofthemovement #youthleadership

Turning Personal Experience into Collective Strength: Linda’s Story (Malawi) Linda Phiri’s journey with the UNITED! Movement ESA began in 2024 at a regional SRHR and HIV conference in Kenya. An experience that led to her becoming Malawi’s country representative. But her advocacy started much earlier. After a traumatic experience in childhood went unnoticed, Linda grew determined to ensure no girl feels unseen or unsupported. By 17, she had founded a women-led organisation mentoring GBV survivors and helping girls stay in school, turning her story into a source of strength for others. Through UNITED!, Linda has grown in confidence, connected with young leaders across Africa, and secured mentorship through the Her Voice Fund. As country representative, she led Malawi’s first UNITED! Movement country-level engagement dialogue, bringing youth organisations together to build skills, strengthen collaboration, and amplify their impact. Her work has also gained recognition from regional partners, expanding opportunities for her organisation. Sharing her story publicly became a turning point, helping her heal while inspiring other girls. Today, Linda continues to shape youth advocacy spaces, contributing to regional discussions and championing inclusion. For her, the biggest message is clear “when young people feel heard and work together, real change happens.” #UNITEDMovementESA #voicesofthemovement #youthleadership

From the Kingdom of Eswatini 🇸🇿, as GC8 begins and allocation letter is received, young people are clear on what must happen & here’s what Sikhulile has to say: 📌Equal partnership not beneficiaries, but fully resourced partners. 📌A real seat at the CCM table with meaningful, ethical participation and voting power. 📌Funding for what’s been neglected: mental health, prevention, and community-led responses. 📌Inclusion of key populations, adolescents, boys, and men. To ensure these priorities are not sidelined, youth CCM representatives must ensure to be in the writing team “nothing about us without us”. #UNITEDMovementESA #gc8 #globalfund

Turning Pain into Purpose: Pedro's Story (Mozambique) Pedro grew up in a community where HIV was surrounded by stark stigma, fear, and silence. Seeing young people struggle without support pushed him into youth advocacy while still in school, determined to share knowledge, promote protection, and replace judgement with compassion. As he grew, Pedro connected with others fighting stigma and eventually led a youth network supporting young people living with HIV. Through crises in Mozambique, conflict and floods, he witnessed the harsh realities many faced, from disrupted treatment to displacement and rejection. Those moments deepened his commitment to ensure no young person feels alone. Joining the UNITED! Movement ESA marked a turning point. Pedro found strength, purpose, and a sense of shared leadership. Hearing young people say his support made them feel strong reminded him why his work matters. Today, Pedro uses his voice to bring young people into decision-making spaces. He says he realized that "advocacy isn't just what he does—it's who he is." #UNITEDMovementESA #voicesofthemovement #youthleadership

Africa has the youngest population in the world (60% < 25 years). The 1st AUDA-NEPAD Non-State Actors conference in Lusaka is all about ensuring this moment becomes a catalyst for growth, not a MISSED opportunity. Day 1 is setting the agenda! #DemographicDividend #Agenda2063

Day 2 reflections Leaders and partners came together to shape the Lusaka Call to Action setting a pace for strengthening & driving progress on reproductive health and harnessing Africa’s demographic dividend. Momentum is building. #AfricaRising #HealthForAll #Leadership #Impact

Excited to serve as Country Representative for UNITED Movement Burundi 🇧🇮 A youth-led network advancing SRHR, digital advocacy & HIV prevention, and putting young people at the center of change. Let’s build the future we deserve, together. ✊🏾 #UnitedMovement #YouthLeadership

As countries roll out GC8 (Grant Cycle Eight), Matseliso is reminding us that youth engagement must be intentional, not incidental. Access the GC8 youth statement by UNITED! Movement & Youth CCM reps across ESA: yplusglobal.org/resources-unit… Share with your CCM secretariat, PRs, SRs & SSRs to push for meaningful youth engagement in GC8! #GC8 #UNITEDMovementESA

Missed the @GlobalFund #GC8 webinar? Or want to revisit the key insights? Watch how youth-led networks can engage in Global Fund processes, influence funding priorities, and strengthen their advocacy in GC8. 🎥 Watch here 👉🏼 youtube.com/watch?v=CkCYlN…

🎤 Meet the speakers shaping our #GC8 webinar! From the Global Fund to community advocates and youth leaders, this is your chance to hear directly from those influencing grant processes and youth engagement. 🗓️ Wed 8 April 🕒 11:00 CET | 16:00 ICT 🔗us06web.zoom.us/webinar/regist…