Botlhale Boikanyo appointed UNFPA regional youth champion for East and Southern Africa

Award‑winning poet, speaker and actress Botlhale Boikanyo has been appointed by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) East and Southern Africa Regional Office as the Regional International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) Youth Champion. The 25‑year‑old described the role as a “full‑circle moment” and said she is honoured to use her storytelling to amplify the voices, dreams and lived experiences of young people, especially women and girls, across the region.

In her announcement, Boikanyo pledged to engage with youth, advocate for meaningful participation, and champion rights, dignity, bodily autonomy and the potential of her generation. The appointment expands her platform for advocacy on reproductive health and gender equality throughout East and Southern Africa.