Raising Empowered Advocates for Community Health (REACH) is a youth-centered initiative co-developed by the GIAHC Young Leaders and Women Empowering Nations (WENations) in 2025, with participants recruited from WENations’ GLOW (Girls Leading Our World) network. The program was created by our GIAHC Young Leaders Chair, Ariana Montesdeoca,  GIAHC Young Leaders Vice Chair, McKenna Stoudemire, and Wambui Gachunga, GLOW Global Ambassador through WENations. Brought together through a mutual connection at the Sabin Vaccine Institute, the three co-founders shared a vision: to equip young people, especially girls, with the tools, training, and confidence to lead change in their own communities.

REACH was designed to address a key question: How can we support students who are eager to create impact, but lack access to proper guidance and resources? The program answered this by using HPV and cervical cancer as a case study to help participants explore public health issues, while also building critical skills in science education, leadership, and advocacy.

The two-part workshop series began with an educational session focused on HPV and cervical cancer, alongside training in health literacy, science communication, and identifying health misinformation. The second workshop provided space for participants to build and present their own community health projects with personalized feedback and support.

At the conclusion of the program, each participant was recognized as a Certified Youth Health Advocate, equipped with the knowledge to understand the science behind HPV and the vaccine, combat myths and misinformation, and lead impactful health advocacy efforts in their communities. In recognition of their outstanding work, three REACH graduates were also selected to present their community health projects during the Sabin Vaccine Institute’s Monthly Partner Series.

As a next step, the REACH team is excited to share two calls to action:

• Microgrants: Support the implementation of participants’ projects with a microgrant of up to $500 USD.
• Mentorship: Provide mentorship, internship, or volunteer opportunities that could support REACH graduates as they continue their advocacy journeys.