The Board of Trustees (BOT) of Youth Voices Count (YVC), Inc., Calle Real Business Center, Iloilo City, Iloilo, Philippines, formally announces the
Youth Voices Count’s HIV and AIDS Officer Bloom Siriwattakanon attended the Young People Conference organized by Institute of HIV Research and Innovation, PEPFAR, USAID and YouthLEAD.
Mx. Toni graduated with a bachelor’s degree of secondary education majoring in English at the Capiz State University back in 2021.
Last September 21, 2023, Youth Voices Count participated in the “Three Miracle Laws” press conference at the Bangkok Art and Culture Center (BACC), Bangkok, Thailand.
MALAYSIA
THEY/THEM
Mohammed (they/them) is a youth community organizer and facilitator based in Bangalore. With a professional background in molecular and cellular biology, they have conducted research on the rapid disease diagnosis of Dengue Virus in India. As a queer facilitator and co-founder of multiple safe spaces in their city, Mohammed actively advocates for marginalized communities. Their work on intersex rights has been featured in leading outlets such as The News Minute, Youth Ki Awaaz, Outlook India, The Deccan Herald, Feminism in India, and Gaysi. Their passion lies in research and with bridging gaps for biological education and human rights.
Their organizational affiliations include being the Co-founder of Intersex Human Rights India, the Community Founder and Facilitator of Polyglamorous Polys, a Senior Facilitator at Queer Campus Bangalore, and the Community Founder and Facilitator of Project RISE.
They are a recipient of the Pride Palooza Awards 2024 in the Advocacy of the Year category.
Philippines
THEY/THEM
Marze graduated as Magna Cum Laude at West Visayas State University, majoring in English Language Studies and is currently taking up their Masters in English Language Studies at the same institution. They are also currently a part of Iloilo Pride Team’s Creatives team.
During their leisure time, they take their time reading books, listening to music, and sketching.
PHILIPPINES
THEY/THEM
Johnmel M. Estimar is the founder and senior adviser of La Villa Pride, a grassroots-level organization for LGBTQI in Villa, Iloilo. They are also a member of the Iloilo Pride team, a Community Based Screening motivator for HIV and an LGBTQI Rights Activist. Miles, as they like to be called, graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration at John B. Lacson Foundation Maritime University-Molo, Inc. They also hold an Associate Degree in Cruise Ship Management in the same University.
They have ample experience in clerk and accounting work for nine years from their previous employer, they are currently employed with Youth Voices Count as Finance Manager since 2019.
PHILIPPINES
HE/HIM, THEY/THEM
Mx. Toni graduated with a bachelor’s degree of secondary education majoring in English at the Capiz State University back in 2021. Aside from this, they sought out other educational opportunities such as Advocacy and Project Management at the Women Deliver Digital University (2015), International Women’s Health and Human Rights at Stanford University (2014), and Global Health and Humanitarianism at the University of Manchester (2013).
An advocate of many causes, they are members of the Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative, and Y-PEER Pilipinas, founder of the Y-Cap for SRHR, founder of United Colours of CapSU, and Alumnus of Women Deliver Young Leaders Program. Back in 2018, they were awarded as the SDG 5 Youth Champion due to the amiable service they have rendered for gender equality.
PHILIPPINES
HE/HIM
PHILIPPINES
HE/HIM
PHILIPPINES
HE/THEY
MALAYSIA
THEY/THEM
Kaiser is a transmasculine/non-binary activist and decolonial queer-feminist facilitator in Southeast Asia who focuses on queering up systems and the politics of pleasure to bring about radical, transformative change. While holding an external law degree and certification in public policy analysis, their core competencies in analysing grassroot power structures is attributed to the 10+ years of community mobilisation in online communities. This understanding of complex internet dynamics informs their work as an educational module facilitator and advocacy advisor in Monsters Among Us [MAU], a youth-lead organisation championing child rights against harassment and abuse, bodily autonomy and comprehensive sexuality education.
They are actively involved in ASEAN-based leadership committees in the advancement of SOGIESC rights: designing programs to build up organisational technical infrastructure, presenting regional trends analysis in diplomatic summits, and facilitating knowledge sharing sessions about queer right to information in countries that suppress freedom of assembly and expression. They also worked with Kemban Kolektif in the Women Gaining Ground project [WGG]—a consortium lead by partners like CREA, Akili Dada, and IWRAW Asia Pacific [IWRAW-AP] in collaboration with 16 in-country strategic partners—to produce briefing papers that center anti-carceral approaches and restorative justice frameworks to prevent sexual and gender-based violence.
PHILIPPINES
HE/THEY
Jan is the Engagement Executive of Mindcare Club and a consultant at We Thrive Wellbeing and Consultancy Services. He also a member of both teh Sports and Exercise Psychology SIG and LGBT Psychology Association of the Philippines.
He was previously part of the team of ASEAN SOGIE Caucus, a regional human rights organization focusing on the promotion and protection of the rights of LGBTQ+ people in Southeast Asia.
VIETNAM
HE/HIM
Adams Phan graduated from the Ho Chi Minh City University of Education majoring in Teaching English as a Foreign Language in 2017. During his 4 years in the university as the Chairman of the Department’s Student Union, and the Vice President of the University’s Student Association, he took part in planning and implementing many social and cultural activities and events as well as having a former background in coordinating non-profit projects and organizing events.
He was granted the “Bridging the Gaps Learning Institute” Scholarship by Aids Fonds in 2017, received a Certificate of Completion of the “MSMIT Regional Training of Trainers” Workshop, and was also awarded a Certificate for Outstanding Achievements in Social Activities by the Vietnamese National Students’ Association. Although graduating from HCMC University of Education, he shares that he has had an abiding passion for social activities and advocacy since his early twenties.
He always longs to contribute his youth to help enhance and improve the rights and healthcare services for LGBTIQ+ communities nationally, regionally, and worldwide.
NEPAL
SHE/HER
Rukshana is a transgender activist and blogger from Nepal who started sharing their personal experiences as a transgender person at the young age of 15. Currently taking up her bachelor of arts in Legislative Law at the Chakrabarti Habi Education Academy–College of Law, Rukshana shares an interest in intersections of language, SOGIESC and law wherein she works around policy changing through legal activism. As of present, she is the Executive Director of Queer Youth Group since October 2020 which is a youth-led network working for the Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Sex Characteristics (SOGIESC) rights in Nepal. A devoted advocate for SOGIESC, Rukshana holds officerships in multiple organizations such as Vice President at the Gender and Sexual Minorities Youth Network of National Youth Council, Organizing Committee at the Nepal Pride Parade, Chief Secretary at the LOOM Nepal, Individual Member at Amnesty International Nepal, Focal Person from Nepal at Youth LEAD,, and Board Member of the South Asia Hub, Innovation For Change. She is recognized as a speaker at the opening panel in Women’s Pre-Conference and contributor in the Women’s Manifesto during the ILGA Asia Conference in 2022.
Due to her outstanding contributions to her advocacies, she received the National Volunteering Award by the Ministry of Youth and Sports of the Government of Nepal in 2020, and Youth Change Maker Award by the United Nations Youth Student Association Nepal in 2018.
MALAYSIA
HE/SHE
Fila Magnus graduated as cum laude at Upper Iowa University majoring Bachelor of Science in Psychology and Communications. She served as the Director of Communications for the International Youth Alliance for Family Planning (IYAFP) for over 6 years and is currently working at Mental Fitness Hub.
Fila is a member of the For Youth Initiative Kuala Lumpur (FYIKL) and shares that she is committed to ensuring that youth from all walks of life are granted access to knowledge and resources that they require in order to be able to make informed decisions and choices in regards to their autonomy and sexuality. If she’s not advocating for SRHR, refugees, or politics in general, you’ll find her in some part of the globe in search of the faith in humanity that she’s lost along her way.
PHILIPPINES
SHE/HER
Marion graduated with a Bachelor’s of Science in Accounting Technology which has made her suitable for being the Accounting Associate of Youth Voices Count. She lists watching movies as one of her hobbies that helps her wind down during her leisure time.
PHILIPPINES
HE/SHE/THEY
An advocate at heart, Louela is a part of several youth-led organizations in the Philippines with various advocacies ranging from climate justice, environmental protection, gender equality, human rights, SRHR, mental health prioritization, youth empowerment and HIV/AIDS awareness. She is currently the Interim Chairperson of Iloilo Pride Team after serving the organization for 4 years as the Admin Officer, Executive Secretary at Proyekto Philippines, Member of Team Dugong Bughaw, and more.
She graduated as Summa Cum Laude at West Visayas State University majoring in English Language Studies and is currently taking up her Masters in English Language Studies at the same institution. During her stay at the university, she served as the Vice Chairperson at the University Student Council and Federated Student Council where she organized programs and initiatives that advocated for student involvement in societal causes and being the voice of the students that lobbies their concerns to the administration.
In July 2022, she was awarded by JCI Regatta as one of the Top Outstanding Students in Iloilo and a Top Circle Awardee which is the most prestigious recognition given by the award-giving body.
BHUTAN
HE/THEY
Tashi is the South Asian representative in the Core Working Group. He is affiliated with the Queer Voices of Bhutan.
INDONESIA
HE/HIM
Rizky “Ekky” Ashar Murdiono is a graduate student of Computer Science and Information Technology with extensive knowledge in social issues, media, and content development. Back in 2016, he studied a non-degree in Advancing Human Rights at Kennesaw State University.
He is a Co-Founder of the 2030 Youth Force Network and has practical experience in the United Nations in digital communication. He was also a U-Report Learning Consultant for UNICEF Indonesia from 2021 to 2022, and has been featured on TIME Magazine in their article entitled “Eight Young Leaders on How They Want to Shape the Decade Ahead”. He was also awarded the N-Peace Award in 2016.
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