Leader Kanyiki

Leader founded and currently leads an organization called “Batho Pele Coalition”, focusing on counseling and support for young people and their families around issues such as substance abuse. He is also a consultant with Africa Unite’s youth programming. Before becoming a Fellow, Leader focused on issues of child sexual exploitation through the Sonke Gender Justice Network. His advocacy work began as a university student body president and later as President of the Provincial Student Union in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), his homeland. As part of a team of researchers, Leader investigated torture and kidnapping and monitored national elections. After becoming a registered nurse, he began to focus on HIV/AIDS, and in 2007, he moved to South Africa, where he has worked for several organizations, including Planned Parenthood Association Whole World Women Association and Save a Soul Brigade.

Fellowship Focus
In his Advocacy Fellowship, Leader advanced the national discussion on VMMC within South Africa, promoted the importance of integrating gender equality education and supported the South African National AIDS Council’s efforts to roll out VMMC among young South African men. He worked with the media to provide a platform for medical professionals, researchers and activists to debate and elaborate on the new HIV prevention method.