Our legacy
Our legacy report, ‘An independent voice: Avert’s contribution to the global HIV response 1986-2024’, summarises and celebrates Avert’s work over its 38-year lifetime.
‘An independent voice’ chronicles Avert’s nearly four decades of impactful work in the global HIV response, showcasing the organisation’s unwavering commitment to health literacy, inclusive education, and community support.
From its inception in 1986, Avert championed bold initiatives—funding critical research, developing accessible educational resources, and pioneering digital health communication platforms like Be in the KNOW and Boost. These tools empowered millions, fostering informed choices in sexual health and HIV prevention.
Thanks so much – you have absolutely changed my life for the better! You will never understand how much you have helped me.
The publication highlights Avert’s legacy of collaboration with African-based organisations to ensure sustainable, local solutions. It also celebrates the organisation's evolution, and its alignment with decolonisation and localisation efforts, which led to its strategic transition of Be in the KNOW and Boost to trusted partners in Africa, marking a thoughtful closure of its programmes in 2024.
This report serves as both a testament to Avert’s trailblazing role and an inspirational blueprint for future health initiatives.
We always knew Avert had been punching above its weight over the decades, but working on this report and going through the archives really highlighted how Avert stuck to its mission and delivered valued and impactful work when it mattered most.
An independent voice
Download ‘An independent voice', Avert's legacy report documenting and celebrating Avert’s work over its 38-year lifetime.
A visual celebration
Watch a short video showing highlights from Avert’s history through images of its work over the decades.
It’s been a journey
Watch a short video timeline of key moments and milestones in the history of Avert since it was founded in 1986.
In addition to the legacy report, all the documents Avert collected and produced in the decades before digital have been archived and donated to the Welcome Trust who will store them now for public interest alongside their Positive History Collection. For more information see the Avert page on the Wellcome Collection site.
Photo credit: Laura Craggs/Avert