Today is International Transgender Day of Visibility, a day which brings attention to the global oppression of transgender people and our increased risk of abuse, violence, and discrimination. This blog is written by Renae Green, member of ACT! 2030 Jamaica. Renae is a 25 year old human and Trans rights advocate currently working as a volunteer with the Jamaica Youth Advocacy Network (JYAN), an organization that advocates for the  Sexual and Reproductive health rights (SRHR) of Jamaican youth. 

by Ashley Ngwenya, youth advocate from ACT!2030 Zimbabwe

I have come to the conclusion that true moments of a life time are those that we remember with such precise detail way  beyond their time of occurrence. See, I experienced  the first of such moments in my life a month plus ago, yet I can relive it all with such an effort-free gesture as closing my eyes! For me it was not chance but destiny, not convenience but design - for the tool of my service was bestowed upon me from birth… I laugh out loud then halt in awe of destiny as  I  remember my first academic report that  described me as a chatter box 20 years ago as I was leaving preschool. Fast forward to 2017 , United States of America and the chatter box is no longer just a chatter box but an emissary for young people seated at the United Nations headquarters in New York  at the ECOSOC  Youth Forum, kicking staring her dream with salutations as simple as:
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"It is a pleasant day to you all my name is Ashley Ngwenya."

March 1 is Zero Discrimination Day - a time for everyone to stand up for our rights and to speak out on how stigma and discrimination impacts lives all over the world. Today we bring you two examples from ACT!2030 alliances in Uganda and Algeria on how young people are working to fight discrimination and promote sexual and reproductive health and rights and equality for all young people.