By Alvin Massy, Chairman of Amref USA’s Associate Board of Directors 

On March 19th, I participated in the “Youth Friendly Feminist Funding” session at The 68th Commission on the Status of Women (CSW68), hosted by Amref Health Africa and CHOICE for Youth and Sexuality, both integral members of the global consortium, Power to Youth (PTY). PTY’s initiatives aim to empower young voices and engage them in advocating for their civic rights. Central to their mission is the inclusion of adolescent girls and young women from marginalized communities in decision-making processes concerning issues like child and forced marriage, Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting (FGM/C), and teen pregnancy across their operations in Ethiopia, Ghana, Indonesia, Kenya, Malawi, Senegal, and Uganda. 

During the session, I was moved by the compelling stories shared by youth leaders representing diverse youth-serving organizations: Francis (Ghana), Sharmin (Bangladesh), John (Malawi), Deepshika (India), and Justin (Nigeria). 

Their stories resonated deeply with me, highlighting the universality of challenges faced regardless of geographical boundaries. These reflections reminded me of poignant experience during the Amref Associate Board of Directors’ visit to Kenya in 2020. Journeying five hours from Nairobi to Samburu, we immersed ourselves in two days of dialogue with local leaders and impassioned youth dedicated to eradicating FGM practices. Echoing the sentiments from Samburu, the discussions at CSW68 underscored recurring themes—challenging the status quo, addressing power imbalances, advocating for language inclusivity, securing adaptable funding, and the indispensable role of engaging men and boys in fostering lasting change. It became evident that community endorsement is pivotal to effecting meaningful transformations for women and girls. 

As one speaker aptly stated, “Fund us like you love us. Fund us like you want us to win.” I take immense pride in Amref’s unwavering commitment and its collaborative endeavors. I wholeheartedly endorse Amref’s ongoing initiatives to amplify marginalized voices, educate, foster inclusivity, challenge societal norms through innovative strategies, and meet communities at their juncture while steadfastly driving forward toward positive societal change.