About us
Youth LEAD is the largest network of Young Key Populations (YKPs) in Asia and the Pacific
Our vision is to create an inclusive region where the human rights of young key affected people are respected, and the impact of HIV and AIDS is mitigated through the meaningful involvement of young key affected populations to equal and equitable access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support.
We want to be the catalyst of change and to empower young key populations through capacity building, advocacy, and the expansion of partnerships between local, national, and regional YKP organisations. We want to ensure more meaningful participation and involvement of YKP in all levels of decision making that impact their lives. We respect diversity and ensure gender balance in all aspects of our organisational structure and decision making.
Youth LEAD works to empower adolescents ages 14 - 18 and young key populations ages 18 - 30 at the grassroots level from across the Asia Pacific region.
Youth LEAD was established to strengthen partnerships among organisations working on key population issues across the region and to equip our members with the necessary knowledge, skills and tools to advocate for change.
Adolescent and young key populations bear disproportionate burdens of HIV and are most at risk for HIV infections. Young key population communities are made of:
- Young men who have sex with men
- Young transgender persons
- Young people who use drugs
- Young people who engage in sex work
Our organisation and programs are led, designed, and implemented by young people, working for young people. We embrace each other's differences and celebrate our similarities, connected by our values and needs of being young and our shared passion for ending HIV/AIDS.
This is what makes Youth LEAD strong. Our network is comprised of focal points, network partners, civil society organisations and networks, stakeholders and donors, all coming together to advocate for issues that affect our communities.
Youth LEAD began as a project to address the needs of young key populations in 2010, under the Coalition of Asia-Pacific Regional Networks on HIV and AIDS (7 Sisters), which was financially supported by UNFPA.
It later gained support from various UN agencies, such as UNICEF EAPRO, UNAIDS RST, and UNESCO as the project expanded across the Asia Pacific. The success of the project established Youth LEAD as an independent network in 2012, after the development of a three-year-long strategic plan and governance handbook. In 2014, Youth LEAD became a legally registered organisation in Thailand through the financial and technical support of the Robert Carr Fund and UN partners.
Youth LEAD works with a team of in-country representatives (known as Focal Points) to coordinate the grassroots engagement of young people across 20 countries: Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Laos Malaysia, Myanmar, Mongolia, Nepal, Papua New Guinea, Pakistan, Philippines, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Timor-Leste, Thailand and Viet Nam.
Our Partners
Youth LEAD works closely with UN agencies, funding agencies and civil society organisations and networks to ensure meaningful partnerships are established.
We recognise that is through these strong partnerships that our network is able to expand and that the impact of work is greater because of these key partnerships.
Our Team
Ikka Noviyanti is from Indonesia and is the Regional Coordinator at Youth LEAD.
Ikka joined Youth LEAD in 2018 after working for OPSI, the national network of sex workers, Indonesia. Ikka has experience working with key populations networks at both national and regional levels.
In her role as the Advocacy Officer, Ikka represents Youth LEAD at various workshops, consultations and forums to ensure the needs of YKPs are being met. She also provides technical support to country-partnered organizations and ensures meaningful engagement of Youth LEAD’s Focal Points in advocacy. Ikka was involved with the Global Fund as the Youth Adviser for the Point 7 Constituency. Currently, she represents YKPs in Asia and the Pacific as a Youth Council member for the Global Fund. She also uses this platform and opportunity to address and bring attention to the needs and challenges faces by YKPs.
Contact Ikka at ikka@youth-lead.org
Nounvan has been working for Youth LEAD for over seven years and has more than 10 years of experience in finance and accounting. Before Youth LEAD, Nounvan had worked for HSBC Bank and the Canadian Embassy. Nounvan oversees accounting, cash management, financial reporting, budget planning and overall financial control of Youth LEAD.
Contact Nounvan at yui@youth-lead.org
Tan Fok Jun (Jeremy) from Malaysia works with young key populations, teen mothers, and marginalized communities who are at risk of HIV and related social challenges. His work focuses on HIV advocacy, Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights, comprehensive sexuality education, youth leadership, policy and legislation, and community mobilization. He has extensive programmatic experience and is keen to collaborate with youth leaders to make a positive impact on the lives of young key populations. He is passionate about creating platforms for youth advocacy and movements to generate change at the policy level.
Agatha Syailendra Hamdan (they/she) is from Indonesia and is the Project & Networking Officer at Youth LEAD. Agatha joined Youth LEAD in 2024 after working for Inti Muda Indonesia, the national networking of young key populations and young people with HIV in Indonesia. Entering the activism from the age of 13, they began their activism in the issue of Queer and Feminism, which then developed into the issue of HIV, Young People, and Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) at the age of 19. Agatha has experience in working with queer, human rights, HIV, and SRHR activists nationally, regionally, and globally.
Agatha is currently in charge of projects for young key populations' empowerment in the region and ensures the meaningful engagement and participation of YKPs in decision-making spaces.
Leo Villar is from the Philippines and joined Youth LEAD in 2022 after working as an independent consultant. He holds a Masters Degree in International Development Studies from Chulalongkorn University and has worked with various international organizations including ILO, UN Women, and IOM. He has experience working on LGBTQI+ rights, gender equality, HIV/AIDS, labour rights and migration.
As the Communications & Project Officer, Leo provides suppport on reporting, coordination, and project management, as well as manages Youth LEAD's social media accounts.
Contact Leo at leo@youth-lead.org
Youth LEAD Board Members
Board members are as followed:
Youth LEAD Internship Programme
We offer internships to students currently enrolled in post-graduate studies. Students interested in development issues, public health, youth and education, SRHR and HIV can intern with Youth LEAD through-out the year.
To find out more about the internship programme at Youth LEAD, please email