SHIP is proud to be among the five community partners supported by Grindr for Equality in 2025, working together to maximize local digital reach through Grindr’s geo-tag features and expand access to differentiated HIV services.
Through this partnership, SAIL TelePrep services will soon be accessible directly through the Grindr app, allowing users to connect to HIV self-testing, prevention, and mental health support wherever they are in the Philippines.
With global support from Grindr for Equality, SHIP continues to bridge innovation and community health, ensuring that connection leads to care. 💛
For young people today, navigating health, relationships, and identity online can feel confusing and overwhelming, especially when safe spaces for reliable information are hard to find. In the Philippines, nearly half of new HIV diagnoses in 2024 were among young people aged 15 to 24, highlighting the urgent need for reliable, inclusive, and supportive health communication. How we communicate about health can make a real difference in empowering the youth to make informed choices and seek support.
This is where Story Leaf comes in, a non-profit founded in 2020 by Co-Founder & President Gilbert Banducci and Co-Founder & Vice President Nicholas Prufer. Story Leaf combines storytelling with medical expertise to craft engaging, stigma-free digital content on sexual health, HIV, and self-care that young people can relate to.
Open conversations about health and HIV can save lives. Story Leaf creates safe spaces online where young people can learn, ask, and connect.
“Storytelling and social media can change lives. By combining medical accuracy with creativity, we use entertainment to inspire conversations about HIV prevention, treatment, and healthier lifestyles,” said Co-Founder & President Banducci.
Story Leaf collaborates with medical experts as well as artists and animators who have worked with Pixar, Disney, and Star Wars to ensure its content is reliable and empowering for young audiences.
REAL TALK ON HIV AND THE YOUTH IN THE PHILIPPINES
HIV continues to affect young people in the Philippines. Stigma and lack of information can prevent them from accessing the support they need. In 2025, the World Health Organization and Department of Health reported that around 252,800 Filipinos are estimated to be living with HIV and a third of newly diagnosed individuals being young people who will need to be on treatment for life.
This underscores the importance of providing youth–friendly, inclusive information that encourages young people to access health services safely and confidently.
TURNING FEEDS AND FYPs INTO HEALTH HQs
The Philippines is one of the top users of social media, with over 78% Filipinos active online, making social media a key platform for learning and connection. Story Leaf recognized that digital media can have an extraordinary impact in delivering sex education and HIV prevention.
From this vision came Jamie, a digital influencer who speaks the language of today’s youth. Through videos, comics, and posts, Jamie engages audiences on sexual health, relationships, HIV, and self-care with empathy and relatability.
Through vibrant storytelling and short-form videos, Jamie and Story Leaf help young audiences learn about HIV prevention and treatment in a relatable and stigma-free way.
“Young people connect with our work because it is both entertaining and real—it addresses topics that are often taboo but urgently important, like HIV prevention and treatment. With Jamie at the center, we’ve built a safe space online where young people can ask questions, seek resources, and feel part of a community,” shared Co-Founder & Vice President Prufer.
BEYOND INFO: BUILDING SAFE CIRCLES TOWARDS REAL SUPPORT
Since 2020, Story Leaf has reached over 113 million viewers worldwide, with the Philippines accounting for most of that audience. These views have translated into action, with over one million direct messages and comments from young people, seeking guidance on HIV prevention, treatment, and resources. This kind of engagement emphasizes that creative, and compassionate storytelling and health communication can inspire meaningful action.
Story Leaf works with supporters such as the Sustained Health Initiatives of the Philippines (SHIP) and their SAIL Clinics, who help connect young people to services like HIV testing and PrEP treatment. Their support ensures that Jamie’s content reaches those who can benefit most and complements the work of local healthcare providers.
“With the support of organizations like SHIP, we’re taking the next step—bringing this content and critical resources directly into schools, treatment facilities, and clinics, bridging the gap between online engagement and real-world action,” said Co-Founder & Vice President Prufer.
TOWARDS A FUTURE WHERE HEALTH IS POWER
Story Leaf aims to expand globally and increase multilingual content, ensuring that more youth across the world will have access to accurate, life-saving information.
“Years from now, we see Story Leaf as one of the leading forces in HIV prevention and youth health education, not only in the Philippines but across other regions facing similar challenges,” said Co-Founder & President Banducci.
Story Leaf demonstrates that inclusive and stigma-free health communication is transformative. By combining storytelling and health communication, Story Leaf will continue to nurture conversations about HIV and sexual health, empowering young people to make informed choices about their health.
About Story Leaf
Story Leaf is a non-profit organization committed to advancing education and raising awareness about socio-political health issues through entertainment media. Our goal is to establish a global network that allows people to connect, learn, and find inspiration by instantly accessing our news, articles, and videos, ensuring quick access to a wide range of information.
Sustained Health Initiatives of the Philippines (SHIP), Inc. is a non-stock, non-profit organization that offers high-quality, affordable HIV and primary care directly to the communities that need it most. By providing HIV care, building capacity, and testing innovative approaches, SHIP aims to get more people into treatment, and save lives. We create sustainable, one-stop-shop community clinics in high impact areas throughout the Philippines. SHIP’s mission is to bridge gaps in the HIV response by strengthening the continuum of care through innovation, partnerships, and capacity building.
• a Regional Program Officer (RPO) for Region III, covering sites in Tarlac (Tarlac City, Municipality of Capas and Municipality of Concepcion), Nueva Ecija (Cabanatuan City, San Jose City), and Bataan (Balanga City, Municipality of Mariveles)
The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB, and Malaria, through Pilipinas Shell Foundation (PSFI) as its Principal Recipient, and Sustained Health Initiatives of the Philippines (SHIP) as its Sub-recipient for Field Operations and Service Delivery, are united in achieving shared objectives for PROTECTS V2: UPSCALE. Activities for PROTECTS V2: UPSCALE will revolve around prevention, testing, treatment & care, addressing barriers to access HIV services, and creating resilient and sustainable systems for health, with high risk key populations as the focus of this grant.
*SHIP-PROTECTS UPSCALE enforces a zero-tolerance policy on allegations of Protection from Sexual Exploitation, Abuse, and Harassment (PSEAH). Any reported incidents of PSEAH will be promptly and thoroughly addressed in accordance with established protocols, including requesting of applicant’s character references. We are committed to ensuring a safe, equal and respectful environment for all individuals associated with our organization, and we take all allegations seriously and with high confidentiality, prioritizing the well-being and dignity of those involved.
Further details and job description for the position are attached. The deadline for submission of applications is October 18, 2025.
For inquiries and applications, kindly send to work@ship.ph, with the project (PROTECTS V2: UPSCALE) and position in the subject line.
Call for Participants IDinsight, a mission-driven global advisory, data analytics, and research organization based in Makati City, is inviting MSM (Men who have sex with Men), 18 years old and above, and from NCR, Region III, or Region IV-A to participate in a qualitative study on knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding HIV and HIV services.
About the Study What: 1-1.5 hour Key Informant Interview about HIV among adult MSM When: August to September 2025 Where: In-person at the IDinsight office in Makati City or at partnered clinics Incentive: Participants will receive a cash incentive and a transportation allowance (if applicable)
Who Can Join? You may be eligible if you are any of the following: ● An MSM who has never been tested ● Person living with HIV (PLHIV) who has started antiretroviral therapy (ART) in the last 30 days ● PLHIV who has started ART at least 12 months ago
Interested or Know Someone Who Might Be? Scan the QR code or click the link to fill out the Study Participant Interest Form: http://bit.ly/IDinsight_HIV_study
Together, let’s help build more responsive and inclusive HIV services in the country!
Despite our numerous advancements in HIV information, testing, prevention, and treatment—especially with #PrEP, treatment as prevention, and #UEqualsU (Undetectable = Untransmittable)—HIV stigma still persists in the Philippines and in the rest of the world.
More empathy and understanding are needed in the space of HIV. Compassionate action is necessary to stop discrimination, curb the epidemic, and provide desperately needed support, especially for people living with HIV.
We are all affected by HIV. Let’s eliminate HIV stigma to further bridge people to vital healthcare services, provide holistic care, and save lives.
