The Let Youth Lead advocacy programme provides young people with a platform to voice the challenges of youth living with HIV and those affected by the epidemic in sub-Saharan Africa. The programme aims to engage policymakers to drive positive change in HIV interventions that better support this generation.
It is our vision is that all youth know and managed their HIV status by 2020.
I have found so far in life that most services are not youth friendly. In fact, as a 19 year old, I personally rarely experience friendly services. 
This contributes to young people opting to not seek services they need, like important health services.
Having heard about the work that Sentebale is doing in supporting children and youth in the country, and how different programs within Sentebale are run and supported by youth, I was always interested in being involved with them, so I was really excited to hear that they were launching a new youth-led program and knew that I wanted to be part of it.”
I attended the Youth Summit at the ’Mamohato Children’s Centre, in April 2017, and received training on becoming a young advocate.
We discussed how important youth friendly services are – just simple things like making sure the clinics are open outside of school hours, or that healthcare workers use language we understand, and don’t judge us.
Advocating for youth friendly services aims to ensure that young people are active participants in making decisions that affect them and are benefitting from programmes that are designed for them.
That is why I have become a youth advocate.
Founding patrons Princes Harry and Prince Seeiso and Sir Elton John join a panel of young advocates to call for young people’s voices to be heard
Sentebale launched the Let Youth Lead Programme at Youth Summits in Lesotho and Botswana where young advocates present their challenges and needs to national decision makers
Let Youth Lead advocates voice the challenges facing young people affected by HIV to global policymakers and Co-Founding Patron, Prince Harry, to strengthen HIV prevention, testing and treatment in sub-Saharan Africa
Sentebale Let Youth Lead Advocate Masedi Kewamodimo has featured in a new documentary called ‘Have it All’, produced by the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) in coordination with the Ministry of Health and Wellness in Botswana.
Speaking to young people, partner organisations and key influential leaders in the HIV response, four Sentebale Youth Advocates addressed ways in which youth can empower themselves and their peer group to participate in, innovate and shape youth-friendly services and programmes.
On World AIDS day, Sentebale’s Let Youth Lead advocates took over one of Botswana’s major radio stations, Duma FM presenting “Radio Positive”, which provided a platform to generate an open conversation about the issues facing youth surrounding HIV/AIDS
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