Youth HIV Advocate
1145. Becky Kroger
Becky Kroger, from Ipswich, is a leading youth advocate for young people with HIV, raising awareness by speaking about her own experience as an HIV+ young person.
Dedicated to eliminating the stigma around HIV, Becky works with organisations such as CHIVA, One to One Children’s Fund and Youth Stop AIDS leading awareness raising campaigns and offering peer-to-peer support sessions for young people with HIV. Becky was DFID’s official youth delegate at AIDS 2018, the largest conference on any global health issue in the world, which she attended with the Minister of State, Alistair Burt. She works with DfID to ensure that young people’s voices are considered in global policy making. Born in South Africa, Becky was one of the first children to receive antiretroviral medication in the country. She has lived in the UK with her adoptive family since the age of 14.
In a personal letter to Becky, Prime Minister Theresa May said:
“You are doing brilliant work to raise awareness and tackle the stigma around HIV and AIDS. As DfID’s youth delegate, you are contributing to global policy making and inspiring other young people living with HIV to have their voices heard.”
Alistair Burt MP, Minister of State at the Department for International Development, said:
“Fantastic news that Becky Kroger has been honoured by the Prime Minister with a Point of Light Award in recognition of her inspiring advocacy on HIV. I was delighted to have her on board as the UK Youth Delegate to the International AIDS Conference in Amsterdam last year to shed her personal perspectives on the epidemic.
“Too many people think that HIV is yesterday’s epidemic. It is not. Too many people are still dying of AIDS and too many people – especially young people – are still being infected. This is well deserved – it is courageous young people like Becky who keep the spotlight on both improving the quality of life for people living with HIV while advocating for a world free of AIDS by 2030.”
Becky said:
“I am very proud to have worked with DFID and Youth Stop Aids who have given me the platform to be able to raise awareness in the UK of the stigma attached to HIV among young people. I am incredibly honoured to receive our Prime Minister’s Points of Light award and accept this award on behalf of all young people living with HIV.”