Biography

Warona George is a Youth Development Advocate and Criminologist passionate about adolescent empowerment, gender equity, and the elimination of barriers to health, education, and leadership for youth—especially girls and young women. With deep experience in sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), HIV advocacy, and youth programming, she brings a sharp intersectional lens to her work.

Over the years, Warona has contributed to national and regional efforts focused on meaningful youth engagement, particularly in the areas of HIV prevention, policy reform, and SRHR education. She has served as a Let Youth Lead Advocate with Sentebale, where she co-authored youth advocacy agendas for mental health, menstrual health, and SRHR. She also facilitated youth-led campaigns and community-based workshops for HIV-positive adolescents and youth in all their diversity.

Her work includes consulting for organizations like FHI360—where she contributed to Botswana’s national advocacy plan on age of consent for HIV services—and Avert, where she tracked and reported on HIV and SRHR developments across Botswana. She has supported various organisations, including LEGABIBO and the Her Voice Fund, in producing research and storytelling materials that document the impact of HIV and SRHR services in Botswana, and amplify the resilience and tenacity of marginalized communities—namely sex workers, drug users, refugees, and members of the LGBTQIA+ community. Warona was also the creative producer of Positive Chillspot, a podcast amplifying the lived experiences of youth living with or affected by HIV.

Warona has presented research on adolescent access to SRHR services and regularly moderates panels and facilitates dialogues on gender, health, and youth inclusion. She holds an MSc in Criminal Justice Policy from the London School of Economics and a BSc in Psychology and Language Sciences from University College London.

Offline, Warona is usually asking difficult questions, making space for real conversations, or posting something thought-provoking on Instagram (@gaptoothed_gal).