07-P0218: Youth Health Organization.

This activity has USG Team Botswana Internal Reference Number P0218. This activity links to the following: C0901 & P0205 & P0209 & P0211 & P0220 & P0502 & P0504 & P0505 & X1406.

Using a Triple E: Entertainment, Education for Empowerment approach, in FY06 YOHO reached out to young people in more than 10 health districts: Gaborone, Ramotswa, Lobatse, Gantsi, Maun, Kasane, Tutume, Francistown, Selebi Phikwe and Serowe to build their skills, provide information, and motivate them to lead healthy, responsible life styles. A variety of innovative, participatory and partnership driven youth friendly activities were used to attain the program goal and objectives. The key messages were on abstinence, faithfulness and reduction of alcohol consumption delivered through theatre, life skills training and community based activities.

The key activities in FY06 ran consecutively throughout each quarter and included: Youth Summits (life skills and theatre trainings - quarterly), 4 trainings were conducted on quarterly basis for school going youth and school leavers. A total of 159 persons were trained (120 male and 39 female) on Peer-Theatre and HIV/AIDS communication in the areas of abstinence, partner reduction and reduced alcohol consumption. The trainings were conducted using the YOHO AED theatre and HIV/AIDS communication manual. The trainees produced four stage plays: one on alcohol and partner reduction and one on abstinence and safe blood donation and two on gender and health. The stage plays were performed during Dzalobana Bosele Arts festival and the Month of Youth against HIV/AIDS and at workshops and conferences reaching an estimated 35,000 persons (male- 21,000, female-14,000 and youth below 25 - 26,250) in 10 health districts during the Seboza Crew Road shows. The road shows mobilized community participation through outdoor events meant to encourage public discussion of HIV/AIDS issues. The mobile show unit uses videos, sound and a self powered stage to attract audiences who walk home after the session entertained, educated and empowered to act responsibly.

In addition, a total of 99,683 persons (estimated 59,810 males and 39,873 females, and 74,762 youth below 25 years) were reached through mass media: Seboza Talk with Yarona FM and the distribution of IEC materials. All of these activities were cost shared with other partners such as the private sector, UNICEF, and GOB. In addition, 11 YOHO staff and members were trained on grants management, monitoring and evaluation, and managing HIV prevention programs through the technical assistance of Pact Botswana and South Africa.

It is also important to note that through these activities YOHO exceeded its targets in terms of the number of persons reached, and cost shared the budget by more than the 10% expected minimum. In addition, YOHO was assigned national responsibilities for the year 2006-2007 as a result of its impressive performance in youth capacity building and community mobilization. Notable assignments include the appointment through the Youth sector and BNYC as the responsible affiliate member for Youth and Health interventions in Botswana, as well as the responsibility to organize, implement, and evaluate the Month of Youth against HIV/AIDS commemorations. In 2007, the Month of Youth commemorations will be celebrating a 10 year anniversary of active youth participation in HIV prevention in Botswana since the presidential directive that set the month aside to recognize that youth are at risk yet our window of hope.

To position itself for successful implementation and management of the Seboza Youth Program in FY07, YOHO proposes to intensify the trainings and take them to the participating districts as district based youth summits focusing on skills development for peer-theatre educators, and skills development in organizational management-financial, office procedures, income generation projects (of which we have training annuals on) to reach more youth at the district level and create a forum for youth-adult partnerships. District based youth summits will also provide an opportunity for more persons to be trained, and may be more cost-effective than a national youth summit as was the case in FY06. An estimated number of 8 trainings per year (2 per quarter) will be conducted targeting 200 persons (80 persons on organizational management, 20 per quarter; and 120 on life skills education,30 persons per quarter). Further, the Seboza road shows will be more easily managed with district based youth groups who have been trained as

peer-theatre educators. With this level of capacity, YOHO will now be able to run more Seboza Road shows at district level (1 road show per quarter reaching an estimated number of 10,000 persons; 40,000 reached annually). This will not only reinforce message delivery at the district level but will also provide a supportive environment for YOHO affiliate groups. The district-based approach will also assist our affiliates to reach out to villages next to the centre, as currently it seems the program is targeting only youth in main villages and towns according to several DMSACs in the participating 10 health districts. There is great need to expand our outreach and capacity building activities for our affiliate sites who in turn will multiply into schools, workplaces and nearby villages.

To ensure the professionalism, adequate scale, and sustainability of YOHO programs, YOHO's infrastructure needs to be able to sustain the activities beyond the program period. Through the National Youth Centre, YOHO has secured land on which to set up their offices. This will offset the monthly rental costs, provide more working space for staff, and therefore increase sustainability and quality of delivery. YOHO is sourcing additional funding to hire more staff members to assist in effective delivery of program activities and other national responsibilities.