About Us
Our Mission
At Southward BioForge Group, our mission is to break down educational and language barriers in the health industry. We aim to increase accessibility and inclusion by translating HIV prevention materials and research into ten languages, representing over 2 billion native
speakers from regions heavily affected by the HIV pandemic.
Our platform offers translated
versions of vital information, condensed into multi-lingual infomercials, alongside our own
published works. Central to our mission is the empowerment of individuals with the knowledge
to make autonomous health choices.
With autonomy over self at the core of all we do, we aim to help build a world where everyone can make informed decisions about their lives, shaping their own futures.
With autonomy over self at the core of all we do, we aim to help build a world where everyone can make informed decisions about their lives, shaping their own futures.
Our Story
Born and raised in South Africa, a nation with some of the highest rates of gender and financial
inequality, along with significant HIV/AIDS prevalence, founder Bonolo Tshephe witnessed the
devastating impact of the pandemic firsthand.
Knowing many individuals, specifically women, disproportionately exposed to HIV due to poor socioeconomic conditions made the effort to safeguard and empower them deeply personal and urgent.
It was only when conducting research while at NYU that Bonolo realized despite the availability of various prevention methods, stigma and a lack of community-specific communication prevented their use by those who needed them most. Observing the successful rollout of the HPV vaccine in South Africa, she realized that accessible, stigma-free, culturally respectful health information empowers people to make autonomous health decisions.
Driven by this insight, it is her hope that other students and people may join Southward BioForge to ensure everyone has the opportunity to take control of their health.
Knowing many individuals, specifically women, disproportionately exposed to HIV due to poor socioeconomic conditions made the effort to safeguard and empower them deeply personal and urgent.
It was only when conducting research while at NYU that Bonolo realized despite the availability of various prevention methods, stigma and a lack of community-specific communication prevented their use by those who needed them most. Observing the successful rollout of the HPV vaccine in South Africa, she realized that accessible, stigma-free, culturally respectful health information empowers people to make autonomous health decisions.
Driven by this insight, it is her hope that other students and people may join Southward BioForge to ensure everyone has the opportunity to take control of their health.