In 2023, 1.3 million people around the world were newly infected with HIV, in addition to almost 40 million people already living with HIV according to a . In Eastern and Southern Africa, where Henriette lives, 27% of new HIV infections were among adolescent girls and young women aged 15 to 24, who are three times more likely to acquire HIV than young men of the same age.
Education, in particular learning about health and well-being, is not only a right but also a powerful tool to prevent new HIV infections, adolescent pregnancy, gender-based violence and child marriage.
As an O3 Plus Ambassador under UNESCO’s Our rights, Our lives, Our future programme, Henriette is leading advocacy efforts on health education and HIV prevention and serves as a peer counselor at her university.
Henriette’s discovery through counseling
Growing up with her grandmother, Henriette's early life was marked by little exchange and information on sexual and reproductive health topics, around which silence was the norm. "We never had discussions about HIV and AIDS", she reflects. “In school, life skills classes touched on these issues theoretically, but the practicalities of prevention and open dialogue were missing.”
It wasn’t until university, when she became a peer counselor, that Henriette’s perspective shifted dramatically.“Joining peer counseling was an eye-opener”, says Henriette. She discovered that young people often feared pregnancy more than HIV, a reflection of societal stigma and the lack of visible symptoms in the virus' early stages.
“I realized we have a dilemma – if people are too scared to talk about prevention methods, especially condoms, then we will not end AIDS or create meaningful change. We need to talk more about horizontal transmission, this can be prevented and talked about in the same way we address vertical transmission.”
Driving change and dismantling stigma
Supported through the UNESCO O3 Plus programme, Henriette received training, including skills-building, and information on health and well-being. This has helped her to support her peers at university. Her initiatives and informative conversations with students, alongside actively distributing condoms at campus events and using social media to educate about their correct use, are making a tangible difference.
Through her work as a peer counselor, Henriette’s advocacy is helping to destigmatize condom use on campus. “When people see me, they see condoms,” she jokes, underscoring the comfort and trust she has built with her peers.
"Now, students feel free to ask me all their questions and I will answer them as best possible, and when needed, will guide them to specialist services. It’s about breaking the silence and normalizing these conversations."
Looking ahead, beyond raising awareness
Her experience as a peer counselor and as a medical student on placement in hospitals nursing those in the late stages of AIDS, has fueled her resolve to become a greater advocate for HIV prevention and a better future for young people in Namibia.
For Henriette, the fight against HIV is not just about raising awareness but changing mindsets. “We need to make knowing your status normal,” she says, emphasizing the importance of regular testing and early prevention.
She also advocates for greater involvement of young people in community initiatives. “When you join a programme or an NGO, you’re not just helping others – you’re also learning about your own health and encouraging your friends to do the same.”
Her message is clear: HIV prevention requires a collective effort. Whether it’s through education, peer counseling, public advocacy, or personal conversations, everyone has a role to play in reducing stigma and preventing new infections.
