The WSO “20 Voices” initiative is a new awards program, developed to celebrate 20 years of the World Stroke Campaign by elevating the voice, leadership and impact of people with lived experience on stroke awareness, services, research and policy.
In 2026, the World Stroke Organization (WSO) celebrates a major milestone: 20 years of the World Stroke Campaign! To mark this important anniversary, we are launching an exciting new initiative that aims to put the spotlight exactly where it belongs—on the extraordinary lived-experience advocates who are transforming the stroke landscape around the world.
The WSO “20 Voices” initiative - a collaboration between the WSO Campaign Committee, SSO Committee and WSO CARES network – is being developed to celebrate and elevate the leadership, contribution and impact of people with lived experience on stroke awareness, service development, research and policy action.
While the awards aim to identify outstanding impact in each global region, they are also a celebration of the diverse contexts and ways that people are using their personal experience and voice to drive awareness and change – either as a stroke survivor or caregiver.
Every nominee will feature on the website and receive a certificate honoring their contributions, while four standout voices from each of WSO’s five global regions will be identified by the 20 Voices working group to feature in the World Stroke Congress exhibition and an online story-telling and a social media campaign.
Nominees will be assessed based on criteria that have been developed by the 20 Voices working group members, 50% of whom are people with lived experience. Criteria will inlcude:
The official call for nominations will go out in mid-April with a closing date of June 20th. The selected 20 Voices will be shared throughout October and will be featured on the World Stroke Campaign website, in a social media campaign and in an exhibition at the World Stroke Congress in Seoul. An overall winner of the World Stroke Campaign Lived Experience Advocacy Award will be announced on World Stroke Day, Oct 29th 2026.
Over the coming weeks, we will finalise nomination materials, develop promotional assets, and prepare for the public launch of the call for nominations. Our members will play an important role in circulating the call, supporting local outreach, and ensuring that diverse voices are represented.
This award program is more than a celebration—it is an opportunity to elevate lived-experience leadership as a driving force for change. As we approach the campaign launch, we invite all colleagues to help champion this initiative and ensure that extraordinary stroke advocates around the world receive the recognition they deserve.
For more information please contact awiseman@world-stroke.org or sarah.belson@stroke.org.uk
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