Detailed Mechanism Funding and Narrative

Years of mechanism: 2007 2008 2009

Details for Mechanism ID: 4644
Country/Region: South Africa
Year: 2009
Main Partner: Youth for Christ International
Main Partner Program: South Africa
Organizational Type: Implementing Agency
Funding Agency: HHS/CDC
Total Funding: $560,698

Funding for Sexual Prevention: Abstinence/Be Faithful (HVAB): $373,799

ACTIVITY HAS BEEN MODIFIED IN THE FOLLOWING WAYS:

Youth for Christ South Africa (YfCSA) has modified FY 2008 activities to improve YfCSA's comprehensive

prevention program, and in consideration of the FY 2009 Technical Considerations.

ACTIVITY 1: Life Skills Training

Youth Facilitators will, in the schools they are placed in, work closely with Life Orientation (LO) educators to

schedule possible times in a quarter, to facilitate life skills lessons. They will work in schools, with the 10-14

year age cohort to promote abstinence and delay of sexual debut, and will promote secondary abstinence

and being faithful, with the 14 -19 year cohort.

Youth Facilitators will present a range of life skills sessions delivering abstinence and being faithful (AB)

messages engendering behavior change by dealing with consequences of high-risk behavior and negative

peer pressure, and, at the same time, promoting the advantages of abstinence and secondary abstinence to

those who are sexually active. . YfCSA has partnered with the Centre for the Support of Peer Education

(CSPE) to develop a life skills curriculum that will inculcate priority areas and specific outcomes identified by

the Department of Education and Department of Health. This curriculum will include modules on sexual and

reproductive health; HIV and sexually transmitted diseases prevention; human rights; women's rights and

gender-based violence; and substance and alcohol abuse. Youth Facilitators will be trained to facilitate

sessions with an interactive approach to engage learners, and thus, to enhance behavior change through

dialogue.

ACTIVITY 3: Peer Education

Using the Rutanang model of peer education, Peer Educators will be selected from the various schools, and

trained and established as Peer Education groups/committees. These groups/committees will be trained at

a three-day camp that will combine groups and their LO educators from several schools in the vicinity.

Throughout the year, Youth Facilitators will coach Peer Educators and their committees, supervising and

supporting their work and schedules. Each Peer Education Committee, will develop their own plan of action

in conjunction with the Youth Facilitators and their LO educators after training. Training of Peer Educators

aims to equip them as agents of influence in their schools and friendship circles, while a Peer Education

Supervisor or Coach (Youth Facilitator) supports them in conducting an effective program. Their training

covers public speaking, organizing skills, peer education and its purpose, sexual reproductive health and

HIV and sexually transmitted infections prevention, HIV drivers, reporting, etc.

ACTIVITY 4: Creative Arts

Since FY 2007, YfCSA has used trained itinerant dance and drama teams to enhance the prevention

program in schools. To train and maintain an itinerant Dance and Drama Team is not an easy exercise as

there are several challenges, including high maintenance costs. However, creative arts as a mass media

tool has been very effective, and has been used to complement the ongoing Peer Education and life skills

programs conducted by Youth Facilitators, on a daily basis at their selected schools. In FY 2009, Youth

Facilitators will be trained in dance and drama and equipped with a repertoire to deal with a range of

relevant topics such as abstinence, fidelity, high risk behaviors, HIV and AIDS, making decisions about sex,

and promoting abstinence and secondary abstinence. Youth Facilitators will be able, from time to time, to

regroup and work together, using their dance and drama presentations on special occasions such as

launches, awareness events and campaigns, World AIDS Week, etc. They will also be able with their newly

acquired knowledge dance and drama, to organize and run workshops in their schools, and in turn, coach

Peer Education groups on the use of dance and drama to mobilize and communicate AB messages.

Therefore, in FY 2009, YfCSA will not have and use itinerant teams; instead, the skills of creative arts and

drama will be used by the Youth Facilitators to roll out the prevention program in schools and communities.

ACTIVITY 4: Gender Empowerment

In FY 2009, Youth Facilitators will organize workshops, seminars, and gender-based camps for schools.

They will mobilize strategic people in the community to speak to groups of learners, Peer Educators and

their committees and clubs. Gender empowerment will be addressed by dispelling negative norms, myths

and practices that fuel gender-based violence, power imbalances between men and women that may be

rooted in societal and cultural stereotypes. Gender-based violence and power imbalances continue to fuel

the spread of HIV. Gender problems are also closely linked to customs and cultural practices, often-

sensitive issues. Youth Facilitators and staff will be trained to address, through workshops and training

sessions, gender-based violence. Youth Facilitators and YfCSA staff will also be trained, through the

University of Pretoria's Institute for Women and Gender Studies on gender-based violence; HIV and AIDS

and gender awareness; sex and sexuality; and reproductive health.

ACTIVITY 5: Parent/Child Based Seminars

In FY 2009, YfCSA aims to introduce Families Matter! program, which has been effectively implemented in

the USA and successfully adapted in Kenya. YfCSA will work with CDC South Africa to adapt and

implement this program in South Africa. Previously, YfCSA has implemented an activity to promote and

encourage effective communication and positive relationships between young people and their parents.

This activity is a modification of the Parent/Child based seminars. At least 1,800 Peer Educators and their

parents will be reached with the Families Matter! program.

This activity aims to bridge the gap and promote effective communication and relations between young

people and their parents and/or significant adults. Youth Facilitators, YfCSA staff, school authorities and

strategically invited facilitators (e.g., social workers, child and youth care practitioners; probation officers,

etc.) will organize and facilitate dialogue between adults and young people. The activity aims at aiding

effective communication on topics such as sex and sexuality, HIV and AIDS, dating and making a decision

Activity Narrative: to have sex, and other subjects that continue to be taboo in many families and communities.

---------------------

SUMMARY:

Youth for Christ South Africa (YFC) will promote HIV risk reduction through abstinence and being faithful

(AB) activities among youth 10 to 18 years of age. The activities will take place in at least 250 schools in

five provinces, namely Eastern Cape, Gauteng, Mpumalanga, North West and the Western Cape. The

organization will recruit and train young adults to work in the programs as youth workers and peer group

trainers. The emphasis area for this program will be gender and human capacity building and training. The

target population will include children and youth, adult, teachers and religious leaders.

BACKGROUND:

YFC is a youth development organization that directly addresses problems and needs of youth. YFC South

Africa has established several training centers and local offices in five provinces of South Africa. YFC runs

a number of programs aimed at preparing youth for the future. YFC has been funded by the National

Department of Health (NDOH) since 1995 and received PEPFAR funds through the CDC cooperative

agreement with the NDOH starting in 2005. As of FY 2007, YFC will become PEPFAR prime partner and

will no longer receive PEPFAR funds through the CDC cooperative agreement with the NDOH.

ACTIVITIES AND EXPECTED RESULTS:

Many YFC activities promote behavior change through promotion of AB messages and activities. YFC will

continue to empower young women through counseling and education, in an effort to improve general life

and sexual decision-making skills. The abstinence-focused messages are geared towards children ages 10-

14 in primary schools; messages to high school students ages 14-19, out-of-school youth and young adults

focus on abstinence, delayed sexual debut and faithfulness. Full information on correct and consistent

condom use is provided and referral to relevant service sites, but the focus is more geared towards AB

messages. This is consistent with the PEPFAR ABC guidance.

ACTIVITY 1: Peer Education in Schools

Building on activities of FY 2007, YFC will continue to train a network of unemployed young adult volunteers

from faith-based organizations to provide peer education in the form of training, support and referral

services for students. YFC has developed effective models of working with, and empowering, youth who will

be trained to share AB information and correct decision-making skills with their peers. YFC will work with

the provincial Department of Education (DOE) to identify appropriate schools in which to implement these

activities. YFC will also collaborate with school principals and the local communities. The young volunteers

will be placed in schools to serve as coaches and mentors for peer groups, and these volunteers will

encourage students to form support groups and clubs both in- and out-of-school. The volunteers will also be

trained to run informative workshops and community events in their schools on a host of issues relating to

HIV and AIDS, peer pressure, self-esteem, and goal setting.

ACTIVITY 2: Life Skills Training

Young volunteers will be trained to conduct life skills sessions at schools and in camps to educate youth on

making informed decisions about life and sexuality. YFC will use the Rutanang curriculum, which has been

endorsed by NDOH. Rutanang's peer education model highlights the importance of delaying first sex

secondary abstinence and consistent and correct use of condoms, as well as respect for others. YFC has

developed holistic prevention programs that incorporate key players from all levels of a community to bring

about a positive school environment. It is the responsibility of each local office of YFC to maintain and

sustain the work that they initiate in their localities. YFC will use drama, music and dance to effectively

communicate the life skills and AB messages. Topics to be covered will include male norms and behaviors

as well as gender roles and equity to discourage discrimination, violence, coercion and abuse against

women and girl children YFC will also work with the DOE to implement this activity.

ACTIVITY 3: Creative Educational Teams

YFC will set up and use edutainment for support of the prevention program for both in- and out-of-school

youth. This will be done by using drama, dance and discussion groups to educate youth on HIV and AIDS,

and to promote AB life styles. YFC will recruit, train and deploy five itinerant teams to work and support

work done in schools and communities to educate youth on these issues. YFC itinerant teams will present

HIV and AIDS productions in high schools, youth centers, churches and prisons. These teams will spend

three to five days in each school, giving assembly and classroom presentations, and creating informal

discussion times. YFC will work in partnership with the NDOH and the DOE to reach the target audience.

The provision of community programs will help to de-stigmatize HIV and AIDS in communities. YFC aims to

have teams set up in each region.

ACTIVITY 4: Capacity Building

During FY 2007 YFC has established and is implementing an Internship Program. This program targets

unemployed youth volunteers, active in faith-based organizations, and placed them in the various YFC

offices. The purpose of the year-long internship is to provide the interns with on-the-job training in a

program or project linked to the organization. Examples of activities that interns participated in include: life

skills programs; leadership training; training camps; HIV and AIDS workshops. The Internship Program is

based on the great emphasis on training and capacity development of the YFC management. Using FY

2008 funding, YFC South Africa intends to increase the number of Interns and Youth Workers placed in

schools.

Activity Narrative: ACTIVITY 5: Gender-Based Camps

Using FY 2008 funding a new activity that will be implemented is that of gender-based youth camps that aim

at tackling issues of gender stereotyping. YFC will run camps for boys and for girls. The purpose of the

camp will be to create a space for youth to dialogue about sexuality, gender, and gender stereotypes in the

context of HIV and AIDS.

ACTIVITY 6: Parent/Child School-based Seminars

In addition to the activities listed above, YFC understands that it is important to focus on building

relationships between youth and their parents. YFC will establish school run, school based seminars to

facilitate dialogue and increase awareness and understanding between youth and their parents, to foster

good relationships and bridge the gap of misunderstanding created by lack of communication. Talking about

sex, sexuality and boy/girl relationships continues to be taboo in many families and communities. This

increases the risk factor of young people with regard to HIV and AIDS as they seek information from peers

and other sources, unguided by relationship and communication with their parents, families and/or

significant adults in their lives.

These activities will contribute to PEPFAR's goal of averting seven million new HIV infections. In addition,

the activities support the USG Five-Year Strategy for South Africa by increasing effective faith-based

activities and creating support for positive gender norms.

New/Continuing Activity: Continuing Activity

Continuing Activity: 13912

Continued Associated Activity Information

Activity Activity ID USG Agency Prime Partner Mechanism Mechanism ID Mechanism Planned Funds

System ID System ID

13912 7948.08 HHS/Centers for Youth for Christ 6649 4644.08 $500,000

Disease Control & South Africa (YfC)

Prevention

7948 7948.07 HHS/Centers for Youth for Christ 4644 4644.07 NEW APS $500,000

Disease Control & South Africa (YfC)

Prevention

Emphasis Areas

Gender

* Addressing male norms and behaviors

* Increasing gender equity in HIV/AIDS programs

* Reducing violence and coercion

Human Capacity Development

Estimated amount of funding that is planned for Human Capacity Development $80,000

Public Health Evaluation

Food and Nutrition: Policy, Tools, and Service Delivery

Food and Nutrition: Commodities

Economic Strengthening

Education

Water

Table 3.3.02:

Funding for Sexual Prevention: Other Sexual Prevention (HVOP): $186,899

ACTIVITY HAS BEEN MODIFIED IN THE FOLLOWING WAYS:

Modification to FY 2009 has only been in the way of enhancing the other sexual prevention (OSP) program,

with the only new addition of Families Matter.

ACTIVITY 1: Condom Distribution

Since FY 2007, Youth for Christ South Africa (YfCSA) has established and/or adopted condom distribution

outlets in the various communities where the OSP Program is being rolled out. Youth facilitators identify

high-risk transmission areas in their geographic areas where condom availability is most needed and

promoted through posters at such points as local pubs (taverns), clubs, guest houses and lodging facilities

and areas where transactional sex most likely happens. Youth facilitators also promote prevention of HIV

transmission through promotion of abstinence outside of marriage and/or a long term, committed and

faithful relationships; being faithful to abstinence-based decisions and values; and awareness raising that

engagement in sex, protected and unprotected, increases the risk of HIV contraction, especially outside of a

long-term committed and faithful relationship. Youth facilitators organize and establish community-based

youth clubs and/interest groups where prevention of the HIV is promoted through promotion of abstinence

and being faithful lifestyles and various other prevention methods, including correct and consistent condom

use.

ACTIVITY 2: Behavior Change Campaigns

This activity will focus on overtly calling and campaigning for behavior change amongst sexually active out

of school youth and the general community by addressing and highlighting the dangers and risk factors

associated with risky behavior such as drug, substance and alcohol abuse; transactional and cross-

generational sex; negative peer pressure; compromise of personal goals and values, etc.

Youth facilitators, with their community-based group (youth clubs, peer educators, interest groups, church

youth groups, etc) will engage in planning and hosting regular community wide campaigns that will also

mobilize communities and populations with the use of a wide range of information, education and

communication (IEC) materials provided by Khomanani, a government HIV/AIDS IEC campaign.

ACTIVITY 3: Lifeskills and Leadership Camps

Lifeskills and leadership camps aimed at training and equipping youth with critical personal and

interpersonal skills; a wide range of critical lifeskills and leadership skills to also enable the youth to be

effective peer educators and agents in their communities and groups. Youth facilitators and with YfC staff

shall facilitate camps that will also cover vital topics of HIV/AIDS, factors fueling the spread of HIV, behavior

change, multiple and concurrent sexual partnerships, etc. The camps will inculcate aspects of team

building, leadership development and communication.

ACTIVITY 4: Intensifying of Prevention Education

It is imperative that condom distribution is not seen and rolled out indiscriminately or even viewed as being

carried out independently of adequate education in the context of sexual and reproductive health and

sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and the promotion of abstinence and being faithful. Condom

distribution is part of a bigger comprehensive HIV prevention strategy. In youth clubs and other groupings of

out of school youths, youth facilitators shall facilitate sessions to further influence youths' skills, knowledge

and attitudes regarding behavior change.

ACTIVITY 5: Families Matter Program

In FY 2009, YfCSA is introducing, with the support of CDC South Africa, a new activity of a Families Matter

Program. In this program, YfC aims at engaging parents and youth with a positive parenting and family

program; awareness of the challenges faced by youth and the existent factors that abound accelerating the

continued spread of HIV/AIDS. This being a new activity and area of focus, YfCSA shall work closely with

the youth activity manager of CDC South Africa to establish and implement the Families Matter Program.

ACTIVITY 6: Gender Empowerment

In FY 2009 YfCSA will focus gender empowerment activities such that they include the issue of gender-

based violence as well and gender imbalances. This will be done through the implementation of youth

clubs and community wide events. YfCSA will continue to implement the YFCSA developed curriculum

specifically for girls called" Phakama" (rise up). This program shall particularly look at empowering girls with

skills, attitudes and knowledge to help them take pride in themselves and be empowered to negotiate

issues such as relationships and sex, at an equal footing with boys. This program shall also help boys

respect girls by addressing myths and stereotypes that are rooted in customs, culture and traditions. This

will also include wider challenges such as human rights and specifically women's rights, mother-to-child

transmission (MTCT). MTCT is being included in the curriculum due to the high number of pregnant girls

between the ages of 16-24 that are being reached by YfC. Through the implementation of the above

mentioned activities with young girls, YfC hopes to empower girls in sexual decision making, hence

reducing the number of newly infect females,

------------------------

SUMMARY:Youth for Christ (YFC) will promote HIV risk reduction and prevention activities by conducting

life skills programs, awareness campaigns, and distributing and promoting correct and consistent use of

condoms among school leavers, and young adults 18 years and older. YFC will recruit and train

unemployed young adults as youth workers. After training, the youth workers will be placed in Youth Clubs

where they will assist in expanding YFC's HIV prevention campaign by distributing condoms to communities

and the youth. Gender is an emphasis area for this program as it addresses the extreme vulnerability of

Activity Narrative: young South African women to HIV, and male norms and behaviors. While the target population is youths

aged 15-24 years, adults aged 25-30 will not be excluded from these prevention

activities.BACKGROUND:YFC has been involved with prevention programs in schools for several years.

The National Department of Health (NDOH) has funded YFC activities since 1995. The organization was

PEPFAR-funded from 2005 through the NDOH cooperative agreement, and is now a PEPFAR prime

partner. YFC's prevention activities will focus on distribution and correct and consistent use of condoms,

and on gender issues, which will be addressed through life skills programs. The life skills programs will

focus on empowering young women, and challenging young men to question gender stereotypes. In

addition, this program forms part of YFC's comprehensive prevention strategy and is linked to activities in

the AB program area. A particular focus of this linkage for this the "B" (be faithful) activities.ACTIVITIES

AND EXPECTED RESULTS:ACTIVITY 1: Condom DistributionYFC's prevention program will ensure

condom distribution that is coupled with clear and consistent and correct messaging around condom use.

The condom distribution and condom use program will be aimed at school leavers and out of school youth,

as these young adults are likely to be sexually active, and have a higher risk of exposure to HIV. YFC will

distribute government-provided condoms at community-based sites and public health facilities. This activity

aims to empower and positively influence men to practice safe sex and to use preventative methods, while

empowering young with condom negotiation skills. YFC peer educators and interns will interact with their

peers and challenge gender stereotypes, and at the same time, serve as mentors and positive role models.

ACTIVITY 2: Behavior Change CampaignsThis activity will focus on the development and implementation of

behavior change campaigns around HIV and AIDS. Information, education, and communication (IEC)

publications developed by Khomanani, a South African communications company, will be distributed along

with the condoms. These materials address key communication issues around issues of prevention, care

and treatment of HIV & AIDS. Peer educators and interns will encourage discussion around condoms and

HIV and AIDS, and this activity will help to alleviate stigma and discrimination in the communities in which

YFC is working. Interns and peer educators will be recruited from school leavers who are unemployed and

who actively participate in faith-based organizations. These youth will be trained using the YFC peer

educator programs including the Rutanang peer education manuals by the Department of Health and life

skills manuals by the Department of Education section. In addition, peer educators will be trained in

community mobilization and will play a role in informing their peers about local healthcare services,

including counseling and testing. The peer educators will educate their peers on the benefits of HIV

counseling and testing and will refer their peers to counseling and testing services in their communities.

Parents will be targeted and provided with information on raising responsible and informed children.

Community awareness programs will aim to destigmatize HIV and AIDS in communities and YFC will

develop infrastructures to provide community support for HIV-affected families. ACTIVITY 3: Life Skills and

Leadership CampsIn FY 2008, two kinds of camps will be run for school leavers. Outdoor-based camps

aimed at training and developing resilience and Leadership Skills. Young people will also be equipped with

critical personal and inter-personal skills to enable them to dialogue with and impact their peers, friends and

those they relate to. Important aspects of these camps shall be team building, leadership and

communication with activities such as abseiling, hiking, canoeing, swimming, etc. Conference/Seminar-

Based Camps will also be organized as "Youth, HIV & AIDS Seminars" to empower youth on current

developments on the pandemic as they relates to youth specifically and to allow youth to understand the

latest trends and developments in the fight against it. In all the activities, it shall be a general requirement

that there be a gender ratio of at least 40% male and 60% female. ACTIVITY 4: Intensifying Education

about Responsible SexualityCondom promotion will not be done indiscriminately but by educating young

persons and encouraging abstinence as the best and only completely safe option, within a mentoring and

peer counseling context. However, since the majority of youth targeted in this component of the prevention

strategy are already sexually active, activities will focus on the B component of the AB messaging and

linking the being faithful to correct and consistent condom use. Efforts to engage youth shall aim to educate

them in the correct and consistent use of condoms whilst also educating them on the risks involved in

sexual activity. With FY 2008 funding, condom distribution, and efforts to ensure condom accessibility and

availability will be accompanied by strategies that encourage youth to be responsible and accountable in

decisions regarding their sexual behavior. With older, out of school youth, YFC will also tackle critical issues

such as gender-based violence and cross generational and transactional sex, which the aim of fostering

and encouraging behavior change among this group. Through the distribution of 15,000 male and 5,000

female condoms and through behavior changing messages, YFC will support prevention goals as outlined

in the USG Five-Year Strategy for South Africa to avert 7 million new infections.

New/Continuing Activity: Continuing Activity

Continuing Activity: 13913

Continued Associated Activity Information

Activity Activity ID USG Agency Prime Partner Mechanism Mechanism ID Mechanism Planned Funds

System ID System ID

13913 7949.08 HHS/Centers for Youth for Christ 6649 4644.08 $250,000

Disease Control & South Africa (YfC)

Prevention

7949 7949.07 HHS/Centers for Youth for Christ 4644 4644.07 NEW APS $250,000

Disease Control & South Africa (YfC)

Prevention

Emphasis Areas

Gender

* Addressing male norms and behaviors

* Increasing gender equity in HIV/AIDS programs

* Reducing violence and coercion

Human Capacity Development

Estimated amount of funding that is planned for Human Capacity Development $40,000

Public Health Evaluation

Food and Nutrition: Policy, Tools, and Service Delivery

Food and Nutrition: Commodities

Economic Strengthening

Education

Water

Table 3.3.03:

Cross Cutting Budget Categories and Known Amounts Total: $120,000
Human Resources for Health $80,000
Human Resources for Health $40,000