Twenty-year-old Luka recalls how a recent training reshaped his understanding of HIV, teaching him that people living with the virus deserve love, respect, and support and not stigma or discrimination.
In the town of Malakal, where access to accurate sexual and reproductive health information was once limited, thousands of young people are learning about reproductive health, HIV prevention, stigma reduction and gender-based violence prevention.
Before engaging in the training, Luka had a basic understanding of HIV, how it spreads, how it is prevented, and how people living with the virus could live healthy lives. His perception was shaped by myths, stigma, and silence.
Armed with knowledge, Luka joined other trained youth in speaking out against HIV-related stigma. Today, he is part of a growing movement that encourages young people to go for testing, know their status, and treat those living with HIV with dignity and care.
The training was supported by 2gether 4 SRHR, a joint UN regional programme in partnership with the Government of Sweden that aims to advance sexual and reproductive health and rights for all. Luka’s work is crucial in a country where nearly 200,000 people are living with HIV, with youth ages 10 to 34 accounting for more than half of new HIV infections.
“Before, people used to mock or isolate anyone known to be HIV-positive,” he says. “Now, many of us have changed how we think. We’re supporting our peers and spreading the right information.”
Confronting harmful misconceptions
For Anyang (22), dispelling myths around contraception has become a core part of her advocacy work, particularly as many community members wrongly believe that contraceptives harm young girls or could prevent them from having children later in life.
“Many people still think contraceptives make schoolgirls barren,” she says. “We try to explain that they actually protect girls from unwanted pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections. But convincing some people is not easy.”
Early and forced marriages are another major concern. Though community attitudes are gradually shifting, Anyang says the practice remains common in some areas.
“When I hear about a girl being forced into marriage, I talk to her parents,” she explains. “If that fails, I will involve my friends and elders. Sometimes we succeed in stopping it. Sometimes we don’t. But we never stop trying.”
Expanding youth-friendly health services
Despite the progress in knowledge and awareness, challenges remain. Luka highlights the difficulty many youth face in accessing youth-friendly health services.
“Even when we want to get tested or seek treatment, the health facilities are far away…”, he says. “There’s also fear that if someone’s HIV status becomes known, they will be isolated by the community.”
By tackling stigma, spreading accurate health information, and challenging harmful cultural norms, youth are taking bold steps toward a more equitable and healthy future.
“It breaks my heart to see a young girl drop out of school because she was forced to marry or get pregnant,” says Anyang. “That’s why I speak out. I want to protect my fellow girls' future."
