Pakistan Sarmad Muhammad Soomar is a licensed registered nurse and currently works under the domain of research at the Department of Psychiatry in Aga Khan University, Pakistan. Sarmad is passionate about integrating human sexuality into healthcare curriculum and about inclusion and justice in sexual health and rights. He works with gender diverse people, adolescents, refugees, disabled people, and men. Sarmad … Read More
Qaisar Roonjha
Pakistan Qaisar is the founder and director of the Welfare Association for New Generation (WANG), a youth-led organization focused on engaging youth in community organizing. Qaisar is passionate about linking solutions between rural communities and modern technology for sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR). Rise Up Together Cohort: Youth Champion 2019
Natacha Mugeni
Rwanda Born and raised in Rwanda, Natacha is a clinical psychologist and public health promoter focused on young people and women; with extensive experience leading and implementing community-based interventions, clinical programs, advocacy, and research in sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) for vulnerable and marginalized people. She manages and leads the implementation of various projects in the international development … Read More
Mahlet Alemayehu
Ethiopia Mahlet graduated as a valedictorian from Hayat Medical College in Ethiopia. She is passionate about women’s health and provides free medical service to underprivileged girls and women and advises on the design of a mobile application for family planning. She is the co-founder of Mamaje, a Sub-Saharan coalition on sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) and environmental sustainability, … Read More
Jitender Naryanan Bhardwaj
India Jitender is a peer educator and facilitator dedicated to shifting the narrative around LGBTQ+ community health, gender, and masculinity for healthcare providers and public transportation. Through his organization Beyond Eye, Jitender is creating a curriculum with on-the-ground engagement and mixed media to expand non-judgmental safe spaces. Fiscal Sponsor: Development Consortium (implemented by Beyond Eye) Project Title: Comics for Change … Read More
Jahnavi Sharma
India Jahnavi leads a team at Love Matters India to provide information on love, sex, and relationships in the state of Bihar, India. She works to normalize conversations on comprehensive sexuality education by bridging the gap between online and offline space, with the help of digital toolkits and peer educators. She is working on expanding Love Matters India to create … Read More
Elliot Wade
United States – Louisiana Elliot spearheads efforts in Louisiana to offer Gay Straight Alliances (GSA) in high schools, particularly in rural areas. He has been an organizer for Where the Love Is Illegal, a digital storytelling project sharing LGBTQ stories globally. He works with Louisiana Trans Advocates and is passionate about elevating the voices of LGBTQ youth and creating safe … Read More
Ehsam Ullah Baig
Pakistan Ehsam is the founder and CEO of Pakistan Innovation Summit for Education and works with peer educators on education, health, and social development. Ehsam is working to shift the focus of Pakistan’s public health education to include family planning and education on abortion. Rise Up Together Cohort: Youth Champion 2019
Edith Romero
United States – Louisiana Edith holds a firm belief that sexual and reproductive health is deeply intertwined with women’s rights and wellbeing. She works for Luke’s House Clinic and is driven to engage those who are left out of dialogues and programs for reproductive health, and create intersectional, inclusive health programs. Rise Up Together Cohort: Youth Champion 2019
Bersabeh Mekasha
Ethiopia Bersabeh is a doctor who is passionate about shaping the next generation to build stronger communities through her project Sexual Health Education for Better Awareness (SHEBA). She seeks to ensure that all youth in rural Ethiopia have access to sexual health education and works with Ethiopian Medical Students Association Addis Ababa (EMSA AA). Fiscal Sponsor: COYDOE Project Title: SHE … Read More
