Applesta da Costa, who heads operations at Human Touch Foundation will participate at an Asia-Pacific Youth Forum which will deliberate on ‘Putting Young Key Populations first to end AIDS by 2030’ at Bangkok on October 20 and 21.
The Youth Forum is held to revitalize, reengage and increase collaboration and commitment of stakeholders on the HIV response for young key populations. It is organized by the government of Thailand, UNAIDS and Youth LEAD, with support from UNESCO and UNDP, said a press release.
A psychologist, da Costa has been engaging in providing psychosocial support to adolescents and young people living with HIV since 2018 at the Human Touch Foundation.
The Foundation is known to implement some of best innovative programmes for adolescents and youth living with HIV in the country.
She will be moderating a panel discussion on “Good practices by Young Key Population in the Region” in talk-show style at the forum.
The forum will have 31 youth participants from across the Asia-Pacific region.
It will advocate for multi-stakeholders’ commitments and action 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, says the press release.
Human Touch Foundation is a youth focused organization and implements the largest comprehensive programme for adolescents and young people living with HIV here in Goa.
