This International Youth Day, under the theme “Local Youth Action for the Sustainable Development Goal and Beyond,” we are reminded that global progress starts at the local level – in communities where young people are stepping up with courage, creativity, and care.
Across Asia and the Pacific, youth are driving powerful change: from keeping health clinics stocked with life-saving reproductive supplies, to mentoring girls to stay in school, to challenging stigma and harmful gender norms. Their actions are improving lives and reshaping futures – one idea, one conversation, one community at a time.
As we mark this day, we invite you to meet five of these youth advocates – bold changemakers who are transforming their communities from the ground up. Their stories are not only a source of hope but a call to action to invest in the potential of all 1 billion young people in Asia and the Pacific. When young people have the tools, trust, and space to lead, they move the world forward.
1. Afghanistan: Bringing dignity to the displaced
At the dusty Islam Qala border in Herat, thousands of Afghan families pour back into their homeland every day, forced to leave behind lives they once built in Iran. In the middle of this chaotic scene stands Zainab Khairandish, a youth volunteer helping families survive the first days of return.
Zainab is one of the youth volunteers for UNFPA’s Last Mile Assurance programme – a programme designed to ensure that essential reproductive health supplies reach service delivery points effectively and efficiently. Deployed to Islam Qala to support the border response for the returning Afghans from Iran, Zainab says, “We act as social mobilizers, helping people – primarily women, girls and children – to access the services they need.”
For Zainab, seeing the camp for the first time was overwhelming. “It was an emotional shock. Everything felt like it moved in slow motion – women, children, boys, men, everywhere. Some needed medical help, food, water. Others were lost in desperate thoughts of their unknown future. Then there are the dust storms of Herat, which are hard enough under shelter, let alone in the open desert,” she recalls. “I had no words. I just rushed to help.”
In the camp, there are only basic emergency services. Zainab and her team move quickly to make sure urgent needs are met. “Yesterday we had five pregnant women looking for maternal healthcare. My team and I guided them to the UNFPA-supported clinic in the camp so the midwives and doctors could take care of them,” she explains, finding strength through her mission.
While acknowledging that the camp provides only temporary relief, youth like Zainab are on the ground every day, offering comfort and urgent help to Afghan families in their most vulnerable moments. Even if the road ahead is uncertain, their compassion lights a small path forward.
2. Nepal: Giving girls a voice to uplift their lives
In a rural village on Nepal’s southern plains in Lumbini Province, Pooja Yadav, a UNFPA-trained youth facilitator, is sparking a quiet revolution for girls. She begins her day in a borrowed room, not a classroom or an office. With only a few mats on the floor, this modest space becomes a powerful place for change. Here, each week, adolescent girls gather – many for the first time – to talk about their lives, their bodies, and their dreams.
Initially, the girls were shy, but Pooja’s approach built trust, and they began to open up, even calling her “didi” (sister). This bond has led to tangible change, including an instance where three girls who had dropped out of school, re-enrolled.
“I never imagined I could lead a session or speak in front of people. I used to think I didn’t have a role. But now I see that I do. And I want other girls to see it too.”
Pooja’s work is shifting norms and building confidence – one girl, one family, one conversation at a time. As a youth advocate working for her own community, she speaks their language. She understands.
Her work is not just about teaching skills; it's about giving girls a voice. Pooja, who herself gained confidence through this role, believes that by listening to the girls, she is helping to raise a generation who know they matter.
3. Philippines: Breaking the silence on teenage pregnancy
In a quiet barangay in Samar, 23-year-old Jenine waits to meet a 16-year-old mother and her baby — one of many young girls in the community navigating the challenges of early motherhood.
Jenine leads a group of youth volunteers trained through UNFPA’s Youth Leadership and Governance Programme (YLGP), which equips young people to respond to the growing issue of adolescent pregnancy.
“There is a lack of education, so talking about sex is still taboo in our community, some parents evade the topic. We are hoping this will change.”
For Jenine, the work is deeply personal. Her older sister was a teenage mother, and the experience opened Jenine’s eyes to the silence, stigma, and lack of information surrounding sexual and reproductive health in her village.
Now, she and her team counsel young mothers, speak openly about taboo topics, and encourage peers to access health services without fear or shame. Together with the Sangguniang Kabataan of Barangay Payao, Jenine launched “Project PAGPAID” – a local initiative that sparks conversations, shifts mindsets, and supports girls before and after pregnancy.
For Jenine, change begins with open dialogue, peer support, and the belief that young people have the power to transform their communities — one conversation at a time.
4. Myanmar: Taking the stage against gender-based violence
As the performance begins, a hush falls over the room. For many in the audience, this is more than just a play – it’s the first time they’re seeing their own struggles reflected back at them.
In Mon State, Myanmar, a group of young volunteers is using theatre to address gender-based violence. Supported by UNFPA and AFXB Myanmar, these youth create and perform interactive plays that reflect the struggles of women and girls in their communities, providing a safe space for discussion and expression. At the heart of this initiative are 18 trained local youth volunteers – including LGBTQIA+ youth – who act as agents of change and voices for the voiceless.
Through their performances, the youth volunteers act as educators, challenging harmful norms and empowering community members with knowledge about their rights.
"We may not have the power to change policies, but we do have the power on this stage to change our communities to a safe and equal society."
The initiative has shown promising results, with some areas reporting a decrease in incidents of violence and women have become more active, stepping into decision-making roles within their families and participating in the community activities.
The project also empowers the young volunteers themselves, helping them to find their voices and become confident advocates for change. Through creativity, courage, and leadership, they are translating global aspirations into life-saving realities for their communities.
5. Vietnam: Raising trans voices for an inclusive future
In the vibrant tapestry of Viet Nam's advocacy for human rights and social justice, one name shines brightly as a beacon of hope and change, particularly for the transgender community: Ms. Dac Thi Kieu Hong, affectionately known as Rosie.
Rosie is a leading advocate for the transgender community in Vietnam. As a project manager at IT'S T TIME, she draws on her personal experience as a transgender woman and her background in social work to empower young people and their allies.
Through the "Everlasting Project," she trains members and allies to advocate for inclusive sexual and reproductive health and rights policies. She also mentors young LGBTIQA+ and trans leaders in various provinces, who return to their communities to challenge stigmas and advocate for better healthcare access.
As a prominent voice of the trans community, Rosie has pioneered advocacy for gender justice, relentlessly challenging entrenched gender norms and confronting the pervasive violence targeting women, girls, and the LGBTIQA+ community. Her unwavering commitment to human rights has seen her actively contribute to various UN-led campaigns, including the globally recognized Free & Equal campaign.
Through her work, Rosie amplifies trans voices, ensuring that the unique needs and experiences of transgender individuals are heard and addressed at both national and international levels, building a brighter future for the next generation.
