I Dewa Agung Ayu Ari Shinta Dewi is a Girls Act Indonesia member. Her story is next in our “I Am AHF” series featuring remarkable staff, clients, and partners who are doing what’s right to save lives everyday.
I was born in Bangli, one of the regencies in Bali, Indonesia, and grew up in Denpasar. I come from a supportive family that always encouraged me to be independent and take responsibility for myself. Looking back, those early lessons helped shape my resilience, adaptability, and willingness to embrace new opportunities and challenges.
From an early age, I was curious about the world around me and motivated by opportunities to learn. During my student years, I challenged myself through academics and student organizations, where I discovered my passion for setting goals, collaborating with others, and turning ideas into action.
I first learned about HIV in junior high school, but my understanding was limited. As I continued learning, I began to understand that HIV is not only a health issue but also one shaped by social, cultural, and structural challenges. Stigma, discrimination, and misinformation continue to prevent many people from accessing testing, treatment, and support, which inspired me to become involved in HIV advocacy.
I’ve always loved exploring new things and was curious about people, ideas, and experiences that were different from my own. That curiosity stayed with me as I entered university, where I discovered my passion for public health. Through my studies and community experiences, I came to see public health as a field that brings together science, community engagement, and social impact.
Driven by a curiosity about the world and a desire to turn ideas into action, I joined Girls Act Indonesia. What attracted me most was that it felt like a space where young people, especially girls, could grow, learn, and lead in a supportive environment. It encouraged creativity, collaboration, and meaningful action.
A few years later, the AHF Asia Bureau and AHF Indonesia gave me the opportunity to attend a regional workshop in Bangkok. Before the trip, I was honestly nervous because it was my first time traveling abroad. I wondered whether I would be able to connect with participants who I assumed had much more experience and expertise than I did. At the same time, I hoped to learn more about HIV programs beyond healthcare services and better understand the social dimensions of HIV responses.
That experience became a turning point in my journey. It introduced me to a wider network of young leaders and advocates and showed me opportunities that existed beyond my local community.
Motivated by that experience, I later submitted a scientific paper to the Asia Pacific AIDS and Co-Infections Conference (APACC) 2026. When my abstract was accepted for presentation, I was invited to present my research in person that June. Just a week later, I learned that I had also been awarded a scholarship to attend the conference in Japan. I felt incredibly happy and proud to have the opportunity to share my work and represent Indonesia on an international stage.
Presenting my poster, titled “Strengthening the HIV Care Cascade among Female Sex Workers through Community-Based Outreach in a High-Mobility Setting: Evidence from Bali, Indonesia,” was both exciting and nerve-racking. I had the opportunity to share my work with researchers, healthcare professionals, and advocates with extensive experience in the HIV field.
Once I began sharing my findings, I became more confident. The study highlighted the importance of community-based outreach in supporting female sex workers to access HIV services in a highly mobile setting like Bali. Seeing people show genuine interest in the research was incredibly rewarding. It reminded me that local evidence and community perspectives have an important place in global conversations about HIV.
Beyond presenting my work, APACC exposed me to a wide range of topics. One of the biggest lessons I took away was seeing how rapidly HIV programs continue to evolve. I was inspired by innovations in treatment, service delivery, and the growing use of artificial intelligence, while also seeing how meaningful community engagement strengthens programs and improves outcomes for people living with HIV.
Over the years, I have learned from experts, observed different approaches, and applied those lessons in my own work. I have engaged with government stakeholders, healthcare providers, community organizations, and young people, and I have learned that effective advocacy is never one-size-fits-all. Different communities and different challenges require different approaches.
Today, I continue to support Girls Act Indonesia through program development and mentoring the next generation of members.
Looking ahead, I hope to build a stable and meaningful career in public health while continuing to focus on HIV advocacy and programming. My goal is to contribute not only to community-based initiatives but also to the development, implementation, and evaluation of HIV programs and policies that create long-term impact for young people and vulnerable communities.
I hope to see a future where young people and women recognize their value, believe in themselves, and feel empowered to pursue their goals without fear, reflecting the vision of Girls Act. I want to see more young people actively involved in shaping the decisions that affect their lives and communities, creating a generation that is healthier, more confident, and better equipped to create positive change for themselves and for society.
