Alexander Bernal - Philippines
Alexander Bernal or also known as Mx. Alex is an 18 year old youth advocate on ASRHR from Philippines. Alex started her advocacy during the 4th National Young People’s Planning Forum (NYPPF) on HIV and AIDS organized by the Council for the Welfare of Children (CWC) supported by UNICEF Philippines, that aims to create safe spaces for children, adolescents, and young people to participate in action to address HIV/AIDS pandemic in the country. Alex’s journey as youth advocate continued when Alex was one of the trained TeenGen Leader of Y-PEER Philippines that was supported by YouthLEAD Asia Pacific last July 2018. Since then, Alex was an active community organizer and youth volunteer peer educator in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) with the indigenous communities through peer-to-peer approach in schools and community-based organizations At present, Alex’s organization – YOUthForYouth is one of the youth-led organizations partner of the National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC) under Youth and Student Sector’s Agenda for Health. Through Alex’s participation, ‘they’ make sure that HIV and AIDS response and yPLHIV are included in the National Poverty Alleviation Program.
Pratishtha Deveshwar - India
Pratishtha Deveshwar is not the one to have lived an average life. From a road accident that left her paralysed from chest- down at the age of thirteen, to making history by becoming the first ever wheelchair-user from India to study at the prestigious University of Oxford, Pratishtha’s journey has been an inspiration for many! A native of Punjab in India, she is currently pursuing Masters in Public Policy at Oxford. She is the elected House Chair of Somerville College at Oxford, and is one of the top 50 postgraduates selected for the Oxford Global Leadership Initiative by Oxford Character Project. She is the Regional Ambassador for the flagship campaign for women’s empowerment being run by the government of India. She is passionate about inclusive policymaking, minority rights, mental health and road safety. And is continuously working in these fields to bring about a positive impact. She is a public speaker, and has been a powerful young voice heard across the world, at various national and international platforms. She lives to tell her story to the world, and wants to use her life journey to serve the society- to motivate, sensitize and inspire millions by sharing her experiences and the perspectives that come along.
Shreya Adhikari - Nepal
Shreya Adhikari is a student of Environmental Science from Nepal. She have years of experience working as journalist national media as RJ and TV presenter . She also have experience working in sector of Youth and Environment and willing to contribute more on issues of SRHR linking Environment issues. She will also be involved as one of the core member of LiveNow Campaign which is one of the initiative supported by Y-PEER AP Center as well as some research projects in 2021.
Pranita Rimal - Bhutan
Pranita Rimal is student of BSc. Environment and Climate Studies and is currently pursuing her masters degree at the Asian Institute of Technology, Thailand. She is also a volunteer and an active member of a number of national and regional youth based initiatives. She is willing to engage in social aspects of environmental issues including gender and marginalized group and explore more learning opportunities with other Young People in Asia Pacific Region. She is willing to work more on the issues of Gender Equality using her skills of research.
Kuenzang Dema Norbu - Bhutan
Kuenzang Dema Norbu is a graduate of 2020 from the College of Natural Resources in Bhutan .She is also a blogger sharing stories of positivity and way of life and involved in national groups working on social issues. She aspire to express her opinions, ideas and experiences regarding relationships, mental health and SRHR through her blog and make impactful changes especially among young people of Bhutan. She is one of the 8th cohort of The Youth Initiative program led by Bhutan Center for Media and Democracy where the members are trained to become the champions of change through advocacy campaigns centered around the main youth issues and realities identified by the youth for the youth. Since 2014, she had been an active member of the Druk Adolescent’s Initiative on Sexual Awareness Network (DAISAN), a youth volunteer network which provides awareness on gender equality, sexual and reproductive health and strengthens youth-adult partnerships. Since 2021, she is also involved as volunteer for Me for Myself Campaign for mental health “m4m campaign 2021” which pools young, passionate change makers who not only raise awareness about mental health but also provide coping mechanisms during the unprecedented times. Moreover, from May 2021, she will be joining Y-PEER AP as International Intern as well as serving as a teacher.
Pema Choden - Bhutan
Pema Choden, a 3rd year Anthropology student, is serving as the regional focal person of RTC Y Peer Network in Bhutan. Her zeal for volunteerism and passion to bring change through active participation in social awareness and advocacy programs allowed her to work on diverse fields like Y Peer, Young Girls Circle and Me for Myself. She advocates on SRHR, CSE and ICPD in institutions and recreational centers. Recognizing her leadership qualities in planning, organizing programs, initiating activities, she started from becoming the coordinator of Y Peer, leader of Young Girls Circle to Youth President of Changjiji Youth Center, 2019. She was also a part of the team who developed the first national e-course on SRHR and GBV in Bhutan and facilitated various programs in relevant fields. With her immense passion to learn more and increase her knowledge on SRHR, CSE and mental health, she started enrolling herself in regional e-courses by Y Peer AP and relevant partners like ARROW and UNFPA. She attended ICPD25 in Nairobi and most of her initiatives aims at achieving the three zeros of ICPD. She strongly believes that young people should have knowledge and access over their own sexual and reproductive health and rights in order to make informed choices in their future. Through her dedicated time and personal initiatives, she also wish to apply her anthropological skills in advocacy programs to solve real life issues and reach wider audience.
Maryam Ghulami - Afghanistan
Maryam Ghulami is young entrepreneur from western Afghanistan who had completed bachelor degree in faculty of literature and humanities, certified in women’s leadership development and special interest in entrepreneurship.
She had been working in different fields as team leader, trainer, country representative, country coordinator, and M&E with different national and international organization officially and voluntarily.
Her vision is to make social and economic changes in life of youth and women in her country and beyond. Her aspiration is to be a change maker in society and help her fellows to raise their voices to be heard and words in action.
