Meet the Changemakers

Each day, we are getting closer to an AIDS-free generation.

We are making steady progress toward that goal—but we can’t reach it alone.

New pediatric infections around the world have been reduced by more than half since 2000. 

But AIDS is still a leading cause of death among adolescents in Africa, and there are approximately 1.6 million adolescents living with HIV worldwide. And 1 in 5 new infections in the US is in a young person aged 13-24.

Young people are

• less likely than adults to know their HIV-positive status,
• more likely than adults to start HIV treatment late, and
• less likely than adults to achieve viral load suppression.

Young people living with HIV frequently face stigma from friends, family, and healthcare workers, and they rarely have access to health services tailored to them.

This must change.

Young people must be at the center of the solution. To ensure that youth voices are heard, we must include them in the discussion.

Meet the changemakers working with the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation, who are breaking down barriers and fighting stigma. 

You can be a changemaker, too.

To end AIDS, we must end stigma and educate the world about our shared work to create an AIDS-free generation. YOU can help! Join us this #WorldAIDSDay and share these stories on social media.

Share Their Stories

• Young people living with #HIV frequently face stigma from friends, family, and healthcare workers. And they rarely have access to health services tailored to them. This must change – #MeetTheChangemakers working to #endAIDS with @egpaf: pedaids.org/worldaidsday #WorldAIDSDay

• #DYK there are approximately 1.6 million adolescents living with #HIV worldwide? We must do more to change this – and 12 young leaders are working with @egpaf to do just that. #MeetTheChangemakers working to #endAIDS: pedaids.org/worldaidsday #WorldAIDSDay

• Together, we can create an #AIDSFreeGeneration. But we can’t do it alone – and we can’t do it without young people. #MeetTheChangemakers working with @egpaf to ensure that young boys and girls are empowered and educated: pedaids.org/worldaidsday #WorldAIDSDay

What’s next?

To end AIDS, we must empower both girls and boys to engage in sexual and reproductive health education.

Young women pay a steep price for gender inequality. In sub-Saharan Africa, adolescent girls and young women are twice as likely to be living with HIV as their male peers. We need to encourage the acceptance and use of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) to help prevent HIV transmission among girls and young women.

And we must work with young men to create greater demand for voluntary medical male circumcision, which also helps prevent HIV transmission. 

HIV treatment providers, in partnership with ministries of health, need to work together to reduce the age of consent for HIV testing so that young people can be diagnosed sooner and receive treatment faster.

And we all must ensure that young people are able to access age-appropriate care where they feel comfortable and safe. 

Together, we can create an #AIDSFreeGeneration.