After overcoming my fears of HIV and AIDS and recognizing the rights issues in terms of comprehensive sex education and those relating to sexual and gender minorities, I decided to add sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) activism to my work.

Jaevion, from Jamaica, is a Youth Journalist through the International Youth Speak Out Project.

Hey there, I am Jae, the Director of Advocacy, Policy and International Affairs at the Jamaica Youth Advocacy Network (JYAN), a youth-led leadership and advocacy organization based in Kingston, Jamaica.

After overcoming my fears of HIV and AIDS and recognizing the rights issues in terms of comprehensive sex education and those relating to sexual and gender minorities, I decided to add sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) activism to my work. My knowledge was very limited to the shock photos of sores on male and female genitals as well as their faces. I can’t recall ever learning about SRH issues in high school, except for maybe 30mins in grade 7.

Thankfully, much has changed in Jamaica and those shock photos are hardly used (if any at all). Nevertheless, much more needs to be done in ensuring that as adolescents and youth we are privy to the correct information that will help us safe guard our health. This is even more important where young sexual and gender minorities are concerned. And so as I continue to learn, I amplify my activism to ensure that my tomorrow is the one I envision.