by Innocent Grant

"Breaking barriers in AYSRHR starts with small, intentional steps," says Fabiola Odira, WGNRR Africa Program Manager. She emphasizes that we cannot break barriers to accelerate AYSRHR unless we are ready to take action within our own capacities. "Sometimes, it takes time to build the strength to undertake large projects promoting AYSRHR, but there are meaningful steps we can take with the resources and capacity we already have," she explains.

Fabiola points to summit youth delegates, including student leaders and community, family, and workplace advocates, as examples of individuals taking action. Breaking barriers, she says, includes speaking up when something is wrong: "Don’t shy away from speaking the truth."

She offers practical advice, such as condemning sexism and gender-based violence, stopping the spread of misinformation in AYSRHR, and committing to learning more about the field. Fabiola concludes, "Breaking barriers means dedicating time to gain new knowledge in AYSRHR and becoming a knowledgeable champion—because knowledge is a powerful tool to overcome barriers."

The FPNN Community Reporters will bring you behind the scenes to experience the summit as it happens. Follow the journey from December 3–6, 2024 for coverage that is youth-led, youth-focused, and youth-driven.