SHE SOARS

This Menstrual Health Day, the Youth Champions, Jacqueline, Olivia and Lauren dive into the meaning of menstrual equity and why it matters. From exposing the price of period products to surprising facts and stigma, they highlight the challenges young women and menstruators face in Canada and globally. The hosts break down how access to period education, products and services differs across Canada,...

The Youth Champions, Jacqueline, Paniz and Shreya unpack period product options and sustainable menstruation – what it means and why it matters to young people’s wellbeing and the planet. They share personal experiences and insights with their favourite period products and the stigma they’ve seen and felt. Learn more about reusable pads, menstrual cups, period underwear and swimwear! They also add...

The Youth Champions, Shreya and Olivia, share their recent experiences attending the 70th session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) at the United Nations (UN) in New York City. They offer a behind-the-scenes look at what it’s like for Canadian youth delegates to participate in a high-profile, international advocacy event. Shreya and Olivia explain how they got the opportunity and the...

In this unfiltered episode, Youth Champions, Paniz, Lauren and Shreya dive into an honest conversation about dating, relationships, and the impacts of patriarchy and harmful gender norms on young women's lives. Drawing from personal stories and the latest trending content, the hosts unravel how societal norms and pressures often push women to diminish themselves in romantic, social and profes...

In this inspiring episode, Youth Champions Oliva and Lauren sit down with Lynn Chinene, Chief of Party for the SHE SOARS project, to discuss youth-led initiatives that are driving Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR), financial literacy, and life skills in Kenya, Uganda, and Zambia. Lynn is the dynamic leader in Zambia who oversees the implementation and strategic direction of the SHE...

*Warning: This episode contains sensitive content. The Youth Champions Shreya, Olivia and Lauren discuss the latest initiatives they’re leading in their communities across Canada to speak up and take action on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR). Olivia shares insights from organizing a student event for ‘Take Back the Night,’ a global movement against sexual violence. Shreya discusse...

Youth Champions, Shreya, Olivia and Lauren get together in person at THAT Toronto Podcast Studio to record a special campaign edition of the podcast: Be a Sexpert! They recap the youth-led advocacy event they just launched at Toronto Metropolitan University to test students’ knowledge in a sexual health trivia game. The Youth Champions discuss surprising stats around declining condom use among you...

What drives youth advocates to champion Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) in Canada and globally? Youth Champions, Olivia and Shreya, kick off season 4 with special guest Jeremiah from the SHE SOARS* Youth Advisory Board in Zambia to share their motivations, personal stories and advice for young leaders looking to get more involved in SRHR and youth advocacy. The conversation highli...

Omaina Ozako, a Nigerian-born mental health professional and storyteller joins host Jacqueline to discuss the close connection between Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) and mental health. Together, they have an unfiltered conversation about stigma, trauma, and the role of culture and community in breaking the silence around mental health and SRHR. Omaina shares her journey to social...

Kristy Van Hoven from the Period Purse joins the Youth Champions to break down period stigma and discuss menstrual equity across Canada. As the advocacy, research and communications manager, Kristy knows all about barriers people face when it comes to their periods and accessing the products, services and information they need. In this packed conversation, Olivia and Shreya swap period confessions...

Lydia Collins is a facilitator, content creator and advocate with over 10 years of experience in sexual health education. In this episode, Lydia joins Shreya and new host Lauren to discuss what an anti-racist and intersectional approach to sexual health advocacy means and why it matters. They discuss overlapping identities like race, sexuality, gender and ability, and how these affect young people...

Leisha Toory, a passionate young advocate for inclusive Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) and founder of the Period Priority Project, joins Youth Champions Shreya and Olivia to celebrate International Women’s Day. They discuss the meaning of feminism and intersectionality, highlighting women’s choices and the importance of diverse voices in SRHR advocacy, particularly women of colou...

Ziyaan Virji, founder of For The Menstruator and Leaders of Today, a youth-led non-profit organization and global movement of young leaders, joins returning host Shreya for an honest conversation about breaking down stigma, overcoming setbacks and creating meaningful change. At just 23 years old, Ziyaan has confronted global period poverty and reached over 25,000 people across ten countries with m...

Youth Champions, Shreya and new host Olivia, reflect on trends and key issues in the Sexual and Reproductive Health space in 2024, and their own journeys into advocacy. The hosts discuss moments that impacted them, including concerns around menstrual product safety, and highlights from the Youth Advisory Board (YAB) on the SHE SOARS* project in Kenya, Uganda and Zambia. Hear stories from YAB membe...

In a special part two episode, Shania Bhopa rejoins Youth Champions Shreya and Paniz to continue their conversation about women’s health and rights. Shania is the founder of @wellbyshania and the Do It All Girl online community, as well as a global health PhD candidate who publicly documented her journey of freezing her eggs at 25 years old.  In this episode, Shania discusses her strategies for ba...

Shania Bhopa, founder of @wellbyshania and the Do It All Girl online community, joins Youth Champions Paniz and Shreya for an inspirational conversation about young women’s fertility choices and empowerment. Shania shares her personal experience with freezing her eggs at the age of 25 and how it impacted her views on women’s reproductive health. They discuss Shania’s PhD studies in global health,...

Danie is a young social entrepreneur working to improve girls’ sexual and reproductive health and rights in refugee settlements in Uganda where she once called home. In this inspiring conversation with Jacqueline, one of CARE Canada’s Youth Champions, Danie breaks down the challenges these girls face in accessing contraception and education and the risks to their safety and security. She shares ho...

Meet CARE Canada’s new group of Youth Champions who are speaking out about their Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) experiences and welcoming youth to share their stories. In the first episode of season 3, co-hosts Jacqueline and Paniz share the impact of SRH on their personal lives and the inspiration behind their advocacy. Jacqueline recounts an eye-opening personal experience that sheds light...

Youth face many obstacles when it comes to accessing Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) services and information. Without accurate information, resources and safe spaces to ask questions, myths and misconceptions grow and make it hard for youth to make informed choices about their health.   In this episode, Youth Champions Madeline and Shannon sit down with Rae, the inspiring young f...

Myths and misconceptions around Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) often stand in the way of youth accessing accurate information and services. Youth around the world are leading efforts to bust myths and advocate for young people’s health and rights. In this episode, Youth Champions, Madeline and Nour speak with Musonda, an inspiring program manager at the Alliance for Accountabilit...

Women and girls’ voices need to be heard in the healthcare system and conversations about their Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR). Too often, many of us are left to navigate our bodily concerns on our own or face stigma. In this episode, Amal, Lauren and guest Amanda continue to share SRHR stories from women and girls around the world. They discuss young people’s SRHR experiences in...

Talking about Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) can feel uncomfortable and awkward for many people. Many of us have experiences that can be scary, embarrassing, confusing or even funny. In this episode, Youth Champions Amal and Lauren are joined by Amanda, a SHE SOARS* Youth Advisory Board member in Uganda, to share stories they received from women and girls around the world about t...

Men and boys are key players in shifting harmful gender norms around the world and addressing gender-based violence. In this episode, Youth Champion, Mishika, speaks with Josephine and Charles, who are leading this work in Uganda through the SHE SOARS* project. As a male role model, Charles encourages men and boys to learn more about themselves, reflect on their roles and attitudes in family life,...

Boys around the world are often raised to believe in gender norms and stereotypes that can be harmful, including expectations about how men and women are supposed to act with each other, how they should express (or not express) emotions, and how to resolve problems. Sometimes, this can lead to negative beliefs about women and girls and even violence towards them.  In this episode, Youth Champion,...

Meet Maryner, an inspiring youth leader in Zambia who speaks up for young people’s Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR). In this unique episode, the Youth Champions are joined by Jeremiah, a member of the Youth Advisory Board, who sat down with Maryner in Chadiza and learned about her work as a youth researcher and girls’ group facilitator. Through a series of clips, we hear from Maryn...