As part of a three year collaborative research project (the “Learning Partnerships to Support Gender Transformative Innovations for Adolescents’ Sexual and Reproductive Health in South Africa”) the School of Public Health, University of the Western Cape, NACOSA and H.O.P.E Africa, in partnership with the Triangle Project, has developed a local gender glossary.

On the 8th April 2025, I had the opportunity to present my PhD research, which explored the impact of COVID-19 on adolescents with HIV in peri-urban Cape Town, with a focus on their resilience and vulnerability using photovoice methodology.

Final Year PhD candidate Charné Petinger reflects on her experience presenting at IAS 2025 in Kigali, Rwanda, where she showcased her participatory research with adolescents living with HIV. In this piece, she shares key lessons learned from the global HIV conference, which emphasizes the importance of community-led approaches, innovation and resilience- and offers a powerful reminder that person-centred, equity-driven research belongs at the heart of all public health work.