Throughout July, WFAD continued to highlight the inspiring work of our members through the Members Spotlight Campaign, sharing stories from across our global network. This month’s spotlights showcased different approaches to recovery support, youth engagement, trauma-informed prevention, and community-based action.

Our members continue to demonstrate the importance of locally driven initiatives and the many ways communities are working to strengthen prevention, support recovery, and empower young people.

In Pakistan, Dr Azqa Shahzad and Career Sync Solutions created a platform for young people to share their perspectives on supporting people in recovery. Launched during Drug Recovery Month, their e-magazine brought together reflections from 12 young people on hope, community support, and the importance of reducing stigma around recovery. Their contributions highlight how meaningful conversations and youth voices can help create more supportive environments for individuals and families affected by substance use disorders.

In Kenya, Janemy Obiny, ISSUP Kenya Youth Chairperson, shared her work supporting substance use prevention at Daystar University through peer counselling, mentorship, and student-led initiatives. What began as an invitation to facilitate peer counsellor training developed into a wider university prevention initiative, engaging students, faculty, and staff through practical prevention education and peer support. Across two semesters, nearly 300 participants took part in the programme, which continues to grow through mentorship and plans to expand prevention activities into the wider Athi River community.

In The Gambia, Bubujal Loum shared his work with young people, schools, and local communities to strengthen substance use prevention. Through youth trainings, school sessions, community outreach, and capacity-building activities, Bubujal supports young people in gaining knowledge about prevention while encouraging them to become active contributors within their communities. His work also extends through community radio discussions and international youth exchanges, creating opportunities for young people from The Gambia, Senegal, and Guinea-Bissau to connect, learn, and strengthen prevention efforts together.

Also in Kenya, Nina Kinya, Founder of Sound Mental Health, highlighted the role of trauma-informed approaches in supporting young people’s well-being. Through reading circles, youth mentorship, trauma-awareness workshops, and creative conversations, Sound Mental Health helps young people better understand their emotions, recognise how trauma can influence behaviour, and build resilience. Her work highlights the importance of addressing trauma and mental health within prevention, treatment, and recovery conversations.

In Lesotho, Thembeka Chonelanga and Mental Harmony shared their work empowering young people to take an active role in substance use prevention through peer leadership and advocacy. Through Prevention Leadership Action Teams (PLATs) at the National University of Lesotho and Phomolong High School, students are trained in evidence-based prevention, peer mentoring, and advocacy, enabling them to become role models and strengthen prevention efforts within their communities.

Although each initiative is unique, these stories reflect the diversity and dedication of WFAD members around the world. From youth-led prevention initiatives and recovery-focused conversations to trauma-informed approaches and community engagement, our members continue to show the importance of locally driven solutions.

Would you like your work to be featured?

We welcome submissions from all WFAD members. If you would like to share an initiative, programme, or success story through our Members Spotlight Campaign, please contact us at with the subject line “Members Spotlight Campaign”. Please include a description of the initiative (around 200 words) along with any relevant photos.