Today is International Youth Day, a perfect opportunity to celebrate the leadership of young people who are providing crucial reproductive health information in their communities during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

We’re inspired by youth leaders Shashi Bhushan Soy and Soni Karwa in India, who are getting back to work providing much-needed information on sexual and reproductive health—including on contraception and pregnancy prevention—to the young men and women in their communities. Trained by Ipas Development Foundation in India, they’re also able to refer young people for needed care at local health centers. 

He works alongside other youth leaders in the rural villages of Jharkhand State who are trained to share essential reproductive health information. Importantly, their efforts chip away at traditional gender roles that can prevent women from exercising their full reproductive rights. 

A series of short videos we've posted lets you hear directly from several of these youth leaders on what motivates them, and how they know they're making a difference. Their commitment inspires us—and reminds us that we can all make a difference in our own communities. We hope you'll feel inspired too!