Aviwe Funani

Aviwe Funani is the Senior Policy and Advocacy Officer at United for Global Mental Health and is currently leading the Advocacy Ecosystem work for the Being initiative. Between 2019 and 2020, she served as a Youth Advisory Council member for Orygen, a global youth mental health organization. Leveraging her nine years of experience in community-based work focused on children and youth in South Africa, Aviwe is a passionate advocate and communicator on youth mental health. Her contributions have been recognized through participation in projects by the World Economic Forum, UNICEF, the African Union and the South African Presidency. A 2025 Mail & Guardian South Africa, Young 200 for her efforts in championing youth mental health. Acknowledged by Daily Maverick as one of South Africa's ‘Activists to watch’ due to her work with youth in South Africa, which has garnered attention and driven change across township communities. Her ultimate goal is to be a part of a positive transformation, exemplified by policy changes and improved access to mental health services for youth and women in the African continent by 2030.