MIYP Champions
stories of change
For Quinter, being a young woman with a disability meant struggling to have her voice heard, especially when it came to SRHR. Talking about these issues felt impossible but joining the Power to Youth Kenya program through the Husika Dada Initiative changed that. As a youth-led advocacy platform, Husika Dada provides a safe space for adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) to discuss socio-economic challenges, amplify their voices, and participate in decision-making. Through them, Quinter gained the knowledge and confidence to speak up for herself and others, and through Power to You(th), she developed SRHR knowledge and practical skills in beadwork that aided her journey to financial independence. “Before joining Husika Dada (as a volunteer), it was very hard for me to even understand myself and express myself well,” she shared. “But now, I know my rights as a woman with disability on matters of sexual health and empowerment.” During her time in the Power to You(th) program, Quinter has observed that sensitization and awareness have brought about a shift in societal attitudes toward people with disabilities, particularly in healthcare settings. While pregnant women with disabilities have always faced judgment and discrimination, she now observes a new sense of respect and acceptance.
Godfrey, a 25-year-old youth leader from Malawi, has always been passionate about MIYP. This passion took him to the youth-led organization Youth Wave Malawi, where he works as a Youth Inclusion & Engagement Officer. In this role, Godfrey led the development and implementation of a seed grant project funded by CHOICE through the Power to You(th) program. This initiative was designed to bridge the gap between young people and older leaders in decision-making spaces. At just 22 years old, Godfrey proposed the idea of fostering intergenerational dialogues throughout the project; an idea that was not only novel but also transformative for his community. “Being able to see that idea come to life was my proudest moment” he reflected. In Malawi, leadership roles are traditionally reserved for older individuals, leaving young people excluded from decision-making processes. Cultural norms and systemic challenges such as tokenism and limited opportunities for capacity-building reinforced these barriers. When Godfrey and his team began the project, they encountered resistance from older leaders, many of whom doubted the capability of youth to lead. Despite these challenges, Godfrey remained determined to create change. The project started with targeted training sessions for both young people and older community leaders. These sessions equipped participants with essential leadership, MIYP and advocacy skills. The training culminated in intergenerational dialogues where young and older leaders came together to discuss how they could collaborate to promote youth leadership within their communities. Godfrey ensured inclusivity by ensuring young persons with disabilities- a group often sidelined in such initiatives- were invited and accommodated. These dialogues became a turning point, fostering mutual respect and understanding between generations. For many older leaders, it was the first time they truly recognized the potential of young people.
Originating from a city deeply rooted in traditional beliefs, Faizatu Sualisu always appreciated the cultural norms that shaped her community in Tamale. However, she grew increasingly aware that the same traditions—especially those expecting youth to be obedient and silent—were excluding young people from decisions that directly affected their lives. With elders dominating decision-making spaces, Faizatu saw how young voices were overlooked and the intergenerational gap was widening. Faizatu’s personal experiences witnessing the consequences of youth exclusion inspired her to act. Her journey began with involvement in the Power to You(th) program. Her active work with the Girls Advisory Council (GAC) was recognized by NORSAAC, leading to her appointment as the young focal lead on the Gender Transformative Approach (GTA) in the program. Now serving as GAC’s Regional Coordinator, Faizatu transforms her passion into action, empowering girls in Tamale and advocating for their rights. Through Power to You(th), Faizatu received training in advocacy, fundraising, proposal writing, and MIYP—the latter facilitated by CHOICE. The training emphasized youth empowerment and equipped participants to pitch MIYP effectively across diverse contexts. Yet, Faizatu understood that traditional beliefs and entrenched power dynamics still limited progress. While national laws addressed issues like unintended pregnancies, they were poorly communicated and often ignored at the community level. Young people knew what they needed—but without a stronger bridge to elders, their voices would remain unheard. Faizatu realized that lasting change would only come through collaboration and mutual respect between youth and elders. In 2024, after successfully applying for a CHOICE seed grant, the GAC put their training into action. Their project focused on building youth-adult partnerships and bridging the generational divide through intergenerational dialogues and engagement. The goal was to strengthen youth participation in local governance and empower young women to confidently take on leadership roles. Unlike previous formal engagements, the project introduced creative approaches to open dialogue. The GAC hosted an inception meeting where youth were introduced to traditional council members during a strategic session. This laid the foundation for mutual understanding and identified ways for young people to engage in governance. To deepen the relationships, the GAC organized interactive events, including Sip & Paint sessions and art exhibitions, where youth and elders could share experiences informally. These fun activities sparked meaningful conversations about perceptions, expectations, and opportunities for collaboration between the generations.
In 2023, a group of passionate young advocates in Indonesia identified a major gap in efforts to end child marriage. While many youth-led organizations (YLOs) were tackling related issues, they were operating in isolation. To address this, 2030 Youth Force Indonesia, with leaders like Tirza, united these groups to form the National Coalition for Young People to Prevent Child Marriage. The idea was simple but powerful: collaboration could amplify impact and push for systemic change. As a founding member, Tirza was instrumental in organizing meetings, setting up a secretariat, and ensuring shared decision-making. Together with fellow advocates, she helped choose a name, design a logo, and draft a work plan. What began as a vision quickly became a structured movement that challenged traditional advocacy models and demanded MIYP in policymaking. From the start, the coalition faced two significant hurdles: funding and commitment. Many youth organizations had limited resources, making sustained engagement difficult. Balancing coalition duties with their own work also posed a challenge. Externally, navigating government partnerships came with its own roadblocks. Some ministries welcomed youth input, but others only offered symbolic participation. Building credibility and influence within policymaking circles required persistence, creativity, and strategic thinking. Rather than relying solely on formal lobbying, the coalition adopted creative advocacy to raise awareness about child marriage. During Jakarta’s Car-Free Day, they set up an interactive space where the public could play with board games, sign petitions, and engage open conversations around child marriage and SRHR.
Born out of a pressing need for youth representation in Senegalese decision-making spaces, the CI LAA BOKK platform was launched in 2005 by young elected representatives, parliamentarians, and civil society leaders. With 75% of Senegal’s population under 35, yet only 2% of decision-makers being young, it was clear something had to change. Even in matters directly impacting youth—health, education, employment—their voices were largely absent. CI LAA BOKK aptly means “I’m part of it,”, which reflects the platforms’ mission: to promote MIYP in leadership and governance. Since joining the Power to You(th) programme, the platform has strengthened its capacity, particularly in MIYP, advocacy, and leadership. What started as a grassroots initiative has grown to influence regional and national levels, collaborating with key ministries, including the Ministry of Health. CI LAA BOKK is now a pioneering force in youth participation, equipping young people with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to speak up and be heard. Why is this crucial? Despite being the majority, young Senegalese face major barriers in accessing employment, education, healthcare, and social services. Policies that ignore their needs are ineffective. MIYP ensures that youth are central to the decisions that affect their futures, particularly in areas like sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) and gender equality. CI LAA BOKK unites young parliamentarians, councillors, civil society actors, and activists, building a dynamic network for experience-sharing and dialogue. “We want to make sure that the authorities listen to what young people are saying, and that they are better represented at different levels,” shares youth changemaker Papa Makha Nguer Seck from the Thiès region. Through their work, young parliamentarians have been empowered to raise critical issues and push for rights-based policy reforms. The platform has advocated for legislation establishing a minimum youth representation in government bodies and called for lowering the age limits for parliamentarians (currently 25) and the presidency (35). They also support youth leaders already inside government to amplify youth voices in influential spaces.
Power To You(th) aims to amplify youth voices and participation in creating change. We believe change starts with the community.
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