Botlhale Boikanyo has been appointed as the Regional ICPD Youth Champion for East and Southern Africa by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).
By Zuko Komisa

South African poet and activist Botlhale Boikanyo has achieved a significant new milestone, having been appointed as the Regional ICPD Youth Champion for East and Southern Africa by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).
In this strategic role, Boikanyo will collaborate with the UNFPA to amplify youth perspectives across the region.
Her work will focus on advocating for accelerated progress towards the ICPD Programme of Action, with particular emphasis on bodily autonomy, gender equality, quality sexual and reproductive healthcare access, and active youth involvement in decision-making processes.
Emphasising the core mission behind her appointment, Boikanyo stated:
“My hope and dream is to live in a world where every young person, especially women and girls, has the freedom and opportunities to shape their own future and is included in the rooms where decisions about their lives are made. Being a UNFPA Champion is another step towards turning that vision into reality.”
Expressing her personal gratitude online, she described the appointment as a profound “full circle moment”.
Reflecting on her journey from a young poet to a regional advocate, Boikanyo reaffirmed her commitment to using storytelling as a tool to uphold young people’s rights, dignity, and potential alongside the UNFPA.
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