Shillong youth lead creative push for HIV awareness and social change

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaAugust 31, 2025

Over 500 young people from across Meghalaya and the Northeast gathered at the State Central Library, Shillong, on August 30 for “Youth Uncut: Real Talk on HIV” and “Multiverse Saga 2025 – Cosplay with a Cause”, a unique event blending pop culture with public health advocacy. The two-part programme provided a dynamic platform for youth expression, education, and real-world impact on issues including HIV stigma, sexual and mental health, drug recovery, and self-expression.

The first segment, Youth Uncut: Real Talk on HIV, featured an open dialogue between young people and policymakers on HIV/AIDS awareness, stigma, and access to care. Health Minister of Meghalaya, M. Ampareen Lyngdoh, encouraged youth to ask bold questions, emphasizing, “You don’t need to be afraid. Help is just one phone call away—dial 1097. We need empathy, not sympathy, for those living with HIV.” She also highlighted the creative energy in the cosplay segment, noting its potential to raise awareness on serious issues beyond entertainment.

Minister Lyngdoh was joined by an expert panel from the Meghalaya AIDS Control Society (MACS), including W.B. Langstieh (Project Director), Wilson Dohling (Deputy Director – Prevention), Ajoy Lanong (Deputy Director – Mainstreaming), and L. Myrthong (Deputy Director – Medical). Panelists addressed live questions from youth, covering HIV prevention, STI awareness, mental health impacts of stigma, early intervention by parents and teachers, and youth-led efforts in drug rehabilitation. The session also included heartfelt testimonials from youth living with HIV and recovering from addiction, fostering awareness and empathy among attendees.

The second segment, Multiverse Saga 2025 – Cosplay with a Cause, brought high-energy storytelling and advocacy to the stage. Cosplayers from Shillong and across the Northeast transformed characters from Genshin Impact, Final Fantasy, Marvel, Demon Slayer, Spy x Family, and more into tools for raising awareness on mental health, trauma, stigma, and identity. Abamita Giri Kharmalki, representing the Shillong Cosplay Community (SCC), said, “Cosplay can go beyond entertainment; it can fight stigma, spark dialogue, and empower youth.” Nishijima San, General Manager of All Nippon Airways (ANA), praised the enthusiasm of the youth and their creative engagement with social causes.

Key highlights of the cosplay segment included competitions in Chibi, Open, and Pop Culture Hiroshima (PCH) categories. Winners included Hun & Remica (Marvel), Carrot & Lily (Puella Magi Madoka Magica), Embhahlang & Edenity (Warhammer 40K), Sonia Khadangba (MLBB), and Team Materia’s Kuro Tsuyoshi (Final Fantasy VII), who will represent India at Pop Culture Hiroshima in Japan, with travel sponsored by ANA.

The event also featured an on-site health screening, where over 100 youth received free services including HIV testing, TB screening, and non-communicable disease checks. Sponsors included Yummy Noodles, which provided gift hampers to the first 100 participants who voluntarily underwent testing. The venue also showcased anime-themed stalls, interactive booths, and creative exhibits, reinforcing the fusion of pop culture and social advocacy.

The programme, conceptualized and led by the Shillong Cosplay Community (SCC) with support from MACS and ANA, demonstrated the power of youth-led creative expression in addressing pressing social and health issues, inspiring participants and the broader community alike.