Youth LEAD

"Not having a safe space to express themselves leads to students feeling invalidated about their gender identity and sexuality… it affects mental health and their ability to participate in educational spaces as they are." In Singapore, Rainbow Asia worked with young people through a series of workshops and trainings, including Suicide Intervention Skills Training, Psychological First Aid Training, and a youth Designathon to encourage young students to examine gender norms and develop creative responses to issues they observed within school and their own communities. "I think one of the things that surprised me was how they were able to come up with innovative solutions to problems that they had encountered in their own daily lives" The UNESCO-Christian Dior Couture Initiative supports youth-led initiatives that aim to enhance LGBTIQ+ inclusive learning spaces through transformative actions and partnership in the education sector. For young people in Singapore, creativity was more than an artistic outlet. It is a way to explore difficult conversations, build connections, challenge exclusion, and imagine new possibilities for LGBTIQ+ inclusive education. Learn more about the UNESCO-Dior Partnership’s impact in Singapore: https://lnkd.in/dBJMkUum

"When students feel safe, supported, and valued, they are more empowered to participate meaningfully in their communities, pursue leadership opportunities, and contribute positively to society.” Exclusion, stigma, and social isolation can affect mental health, self-confidence, and a student's ability to fully participate in university life. Many students in the Philippines continue to struggle in silence, often unsure whether support systems exist or whether they will be understood if they seek help. To address these challenges, the UNESCO-Christian Dior Couture Initiative partnered with Babaylanes, Inc. to work closely with universities, student organizations, and institutional stakeholders to strengthen psychosocial support mechanisms for diverse students. One Babaylanes’s most significant outcomes includes the development and promotion of Pride Help Desk, a support mechanism designed to provide students with clearer referral pathways, information, and access to assistance within their institutions. Learn more about the UNESCO-Dior Partnership’s impact in the Philippines here: https://lnkd.in/gc4g3dSQ

“Youth leadership is uniquely effective in transforming school environments” To combat school bullying in Thailand, Mindventure established student-led club networks within schools, building students’ skills to become drivers of change. Focusing on a peer-to-peer approach, Mindventure contributed to rapid and immediate transformations in school dynamics through peer solidarity and shared safe spaces. Through the UNESCO-Christian Dior Couture Initiative's structural and catalytic support, student organizing in Thailand has significantly strengthened capacities and long-term resilience. Learn more about the UNESCO-Dior Partnership’s impact in Thailand here: https://lnkd.in/g3zjApMj

Hi, Youth LEADers! Celebrate the 2026 International Youth Day with us on our upcoming webinar, which will discuss young people and the SDG #5; Gender Equality! Register now by scanning the barcode, or through the link here: https://lnkd.in/gVysvfAB PS: Speakers and Moderator will be announced soon!

“I grew up without being able to talk to anyone about it” While awareness of LGBTIQ+ issues in Japan has increased in recent years, educational inclusion remains uneven. Nearly 90% of LGBTQ junior and senior high school students in Japan reported experiencing some form of difficulty or harassment in school during 2025. With support from the UNESCO-Christian Dior Couture Initiative, ReBit works with young people to examine how gender norms operate within educational settings and identify opportunities for change. Learn more about the UNESCO-Dior Partnership’s impact in Japan: https://lnkd.in/grwAAK-v

📣 Introducing new community partner for TENAC10US HERO Awards 2026 . 🏳️🌈 As the 2026 Pride Month celebrations kick off, APCOM is pleased to announce that Youth LEAD is our new community partner for our 10th HERO Awards! . 🤩 Youth LEAD is a youth-led regional network in Asia and the Pacific that empowers young people from key populations to lead HIV and health responses. Through leadership development, advocacy, and community action, Youth LEAD ensures that young key populations are meaningfully involved in shaping policies and programs that affect their lives. . 🥳 Celebrating its 10 anniversary this year, the 10th HERO Awards theme is aptly called “TENAC10US” that celebrates the resilience, persistence, and courage of individuals and communities driving change in increasingly challenging environments for LGBTQI+ human rights, and people living with and affected by HIV/AIDS. . ❤️ As the regional community partner, Youth LEAD will be selecting the recipient of the Young Achiever Hero category. . 📲 Read more: https://lnkd.in/grazMyq5 . 🔗👉 Nominate HERO Awards 2026 now: https://lnkd.in/gnxghM7w 📅 Nomination Deadline: 12 June 2026 . #APCOM #HEROAwards2026 #TENAC10US #YouthLead #Pride

On 16 May 2026, Youth LEAD (represented by our Program Officer), was honored to speak at The Youth Dialogue to Shape the Future of Education and Learning, organized by UNESCO Bangkok Office and hosted by Chulalongkorn University. We are very proud to participate in a meaningful, important, and urgent discussion with students from Chulalongkorn University, Y-Peer Asia Pacific, SDG4 Youth & Student Network, and Mr Khaled El-Enany, UNESCO’s Director General to move forward ensuring youth leadership in creating an education system that is safe for every young person. Read the full story on our website here -> https://lnkd.in/gaKrHAiB

Today is the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia. With the theme of "At the Heart of Democracy", this year's global theme is a reminder that truly democratic societies must be grounded in justice and freedom for everyone. In Asia, LGBTIQ+ students are still facing stigma, discrimination, systemic oppression, and violence in the education setting, while at the same time trying to navigate the fast-changing world and adapt. Join all the amazing speakers from this region to discuss driving LGBTIQ+ inclusive education in Asia on 22 May 2026 at 1 - 2.15 pm Bangkok time (UTC+7) in the Youth in Focus webinar. Register through the barcode in the poster or the link here -> https://lnkd.in/gMjwviKF

We are pleased to share a practical, open access training module developed by Youth LEAD with support from UNAIDS Asia Pacific, civil society organizations, community partners, and youth leaders. It is designed for LGBTQI+ youth, media professionals, and community advocates across the region. The module helps readers recognize and respond to technology facilitated gender based violence, including cyberbullying, doxxing, sextortion, and deepfakes. The module is organized into four easy-to-follow sections. It includes thirteen participatory activities, real life case studies, and facilitator guides. It works well for in person workshops or online sessions using tools like Zoom or Miro. A sample training schedule and evaluation form are also included. You can run a full one to two day training or pick individual activities based on your group's needs. This module is grounded in survivor centered, trauma informed, and intersectional principles. It is not a therapy or legal guide, and it never requires personal disclosure of violence. Instead, it offers clear and actionable steps for building digital resilience, reporting harm, practicing ethical media reporting, and designing advocacy strategies from the individual to the systemic level. The module is free for non commercial use. If you would like to know more and roll out the tool in a training, please reach out to Youth LEAD at info@youth-lead.org. Access the training module on our website through this link: https://lnkd.in/gsm2d2kK

As the process for Grant Cycle 8 has begun, the Y2Y (Youth 2 (to) Youth) Consortium—Youth LEAD, Y+ Global, and YODA, developed the Grant Cycle 8 Youth Engagement Guideline for Youth-Led Organizations in Asia-Pacific, Africa, and Eastern Europe to help youth leaders and/or youth-led organizations and their engagement in the process of GC8, securing youth representation in both decision making process and project implementation. Access the document on our website via this link: https://lnkd.in/gyz8A88H