Eunice Esther, ICFP 2025 Youth Trailblazer from the Central African Republic, recently received a national award recognizing her leadership in the advancement of women and girls and her tireless advocacy for young people in her country.
“It was truly an honor, and I strongly believe that being part of the ICFP community played a significant role in strengthening my leadership and impact,” Eunice said of the award.
A Leadership Journey Rooted in Youth Advocacy
Eunice began her leadership journey in 2016 when she joined the Central African Association for Family Welfare (ACABEF) as president of the youth action movement branch in her district.
In this role, she guided and advised young people on responsible sexual health decisions and raised awareness about contraceptive methods.
After earning her professional degree in human resources management, Eunice expanded her work in the field. In 2023, she joined a national NGO as a gender-based violence (GBV) program officer and now serves as a family planning manager.
“My work focuses on parent–child dialogue, counseling, and supporting young people with family planning information,” Eunice explains. “Some of my current work includes family planning outreach and advocacy for safe abortion and free contraceptives.”
National Recognition for Youth Leadership
At just 26 years-old, Eunice recently received national recognition for her leadership in family planning and women’s advancement.
During an awards ceremony held on February 24 in Bangui, she was named among the Top 10 Young People Who Made a Mark in the Central African Republic, and received the award for Best Coach in Female Youth Entrepreneurship.
Organizers highlighted her participation as an ICFP 2025 Youth Trailblazer — and the only representative from the Central African Republic at the International Conference on Family Planning in Colombia — as a key milestone in her leadership journey.
According to the selection committee, Eunice stood out for her integrated approach linking economic empowerment and reproductive health.
Linking Economic Empowerment and Reproductive Health
Eunice believes economic independence plays a critical role in young people’s reproductive autonomy.
“As a social activist and entrepreneurship coach, I operate from a clear conviction: financial autonomy is a foundation for informed and responsible reproductive choices,” she says.
“In contexts where access to free contraceptive services has become fragile due to shifts in global funding priorities, many young people face economic barriers to protecting themselves.”
Through her work, Eunice supports young people, especially women, in developing the skills and opportunities needed to lead programs and businesses.
“When a young person generates income, they gain the ability to access contraceptive products, afford reproductive health services, and make autonomous health decisions.”
Turning Global Dialogue into Local Action
After returning home from ICFP, Eunice organized a knowledge-sharing event for youth leaders and young entrepreneurs to share lessons from the conference, including policy discussions and innovative approaches to youth engagement.
“We did not stop at representation—we translated international dialogue into local action,” Eunice says.
“Today, we continue to build a generation of economically empowered young leaders who understand that entrepreneurship is not only about income generation, but also about dignity, protection, and long-term social transformation.”
