UNICEF - Equatorial Guinea

From June-July 2025, illuminAid launched a youth-centered Video Education Workshop (VEW) series in Equatorial Guinea, in partnership with UNICEF and local implementing organizations. This initiative is part of a broader effort to strengthen community-driven responses to HIV prevention and adolescent health, particularly among adolescent girls and young women who face heightened risks and barriers to accessing trusted information and care.

In Equatorial Guinea and across many low- and middle-income countries, adolescents often find themselves excluded from traditional health communication efforts due to stigma, cultural taboos, and a lack of youth-friendly content. To address this gap, illuminAid and UNICEF co-developed a creative and participatory SBCC (Social and Behavior Change Communication) strategy that empowers youth to become content creators and health advocates in their own communities.

By the end of the workshops, the youth teams had created original videos addressing HIV prevention, stigma reduction, adolescent health, and gender norms—topics chosen by the participants themselves to reflect their community realities. Each video was screened during a facilitated community dialogue session, fostering peer-to-peer education and opening space for honest, local conversations around sensitive health topics.

Beyond the workshops, illuminAid and UNICEF are implementing a year-long capacity development plan. This includes quarterly coaching sessions, a youth-led video creation incentive program, and ongoing support for community screenings and outreach. The initiative will culminate in at least 75 video projection events across the country, paired with discussions to gather audience feedback and reinforce key health messages.

illuminAid is proud to support this innovative model for youth engagement and behavior change communication. By combining creative technology, behavioral science, and grassroots leadership, this initiative offers a powerful blueprint for participatory, scalable, and evidence-based SBCC strategies throughout the region and beyond.

Discipline: Women’s Rights, Education, Sexual and Reproductive rights

Location: Malabo and Bata, Equatorial Guinea

Partner: UNICEF

Project Date: June-July 2025