Applesta da Costa, the Head of Operations at the Human Touch Foundation (which is a youth focused organization implementing the largest comprehensive programme for adolescents and young people living with HIV in Goa), will participate in the 2022 Asia-Pacific Youth Forum: Putting Young Key Populations first to end AIDS by 2030, at Holiday Inn, Bangkok from 20-21 October 2022. The Youth Forum is held to revitalize, reengage and increase collaboration and commitment of the stakeholders on the HIV response for young key populations and is organized by the Government of Thailand, UNAIDS and Youth LEAD, with support from UNESCO and UNDP.
Applesta, a psychologist has been engaging in providing psychosocial support to adolescents and young people living with HIV since 2018 at the Human Touch Foundation, which implements some of best innovative programmes for adolescents and the youth living with HIV in the country. She will moderate a panel discussion on ‘Good practices by Young Key Population in the Region’ in a talk-show style at the forum.
The Forum, which will have 31 youth participants from across the Asia-Pacific region, will advocate for multi-stakeholders’ commitments and actions to strengthen young key populations programming, including ensuring access to services, breaking down barriers hampering the HIV response for young key populations, and ensuring sustainable funding for the response. It will also create spaces for dialogue, sharing of lessons learned, good practices and innovative interventions on young key populations programmes among youth groups, governments, development partners and other stakeholders in the Asia-Pacific region.
