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Developing Creative Minds

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First Phase Project Report

Information about sexual and reproductive health (Lesson for Life)

Name of partner

organization

Youth Activists Initiative Organization

Name of Project Information about sexual and reproductive health (Lesson for Life)

Project No. 143-001-1064

Contact Person and

Title

Tony Khanyepa

Executive Director

Contact

Information

P.O. Box 2925,

Blantyre, Malawi.

Phone: +265 999 151 833, +265 1828 965

Email: [email protected]

Signature of person

responsible for the

report Reporting Period July 2018 – December 2018 (6 months)

mailto:[email protected]


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Organization Background Background of Youth Activists Initiative Organization

Youth Activists Initiative Organization (YAIO) is a non-profit making

organization which was formed in 2003 as a movement for youth activists.

YAIO got registered under the Trustees Incorporated Act, Cap, 5:03 in 2013.

The organization is also registered with the Department of youth. Since its

establishment, the organization has been implementing different community

development projects aimed at empowering young people with information

and skills on HIV/AIDS and Sexual Reproductive Health (SRH), Human rights,

Education, Career Guidance and conflict management issues. The organization

uses a lesson for life approach which it developed, an approach which creates a

platform for young people and community to discuss issues affecting them in

groups and come up with solutions to the issues through engagement and

dialogue with stakeholders.

Objectives of the Organization

To advocate for the rights and welfare of the young people.

To empower young people with knowledge and information on

HIV/AIDS and Sexual Reproductive Health Rights (SRHR) and services.

To promote equitable access to quality education services for young

people.

To raise awareness on the effects of climate change.

Project Background Youth Activists Initiative Organization (YAIO), a Blantyre based youth

organization with funding from MISEREOR is implementing a project called

“Information about sexual and reproductive health (Lesson for Life).”

Goal/Impact of the project

The knowledge about young people’s sexual reproductive health and

HIV has increased among young people and adults in Blantyre City.

Objectives of the project

1. The targeted young people (10 to 25 years) have increased

comprehensive knowledge about sexual reproductive health including

HIV and are able to make informed decisions.

2. Communication and dialogue between young people and adults

(parents, guardians, caregivers, and community leaders) has improved.

Indicators for:

Objective 1:

The targeted young people (10 to 25 years) have increased


HIV and are able to make informed decisions.

1. Results of pre- and post-tests – before and after trainings – show

increase in knowledge level.

2. Changes in behaviour due to project work are demonstrated through

young people’s testimonies in regard to early sexual intercourse,

substance abuse and early marriages.

3. Number of school drop-outs and early pregnancies has reduced

(compared to the available data).


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4. Trained peer educators disseminate correct information to other

young people (number of young people to be reached as agreed

upon).

Objective 2:

Communication and dialogue between young people and adults (parents,

guardians, caregivers, community leaders) has improved

1. The improved communication and dialogue between young people and

adults result in common actions reducing the difficulties young people

face – three examples of such actions and their achievements are

reported annually.

2. Adults are aware of their roles and responsibilities towards young

people, understand the situation of young people better and support

them in their development – Two testimonies of such changes are

reported annually.

Summary of Activities 1. Project Launch

2. Group sessions

3. Peer Education training using Moyo Wanga – Kuyambira Pano handbook

4. Media programs

5. Young people and adults forums

6. Production of IEC materials

7. Book Distribution

Activity Details Objective 1: The targeted young people (10 to 25 years) have increased


HIV and are able to make informed decisions

Project Launch

The project launch was conducted on the 7th September, 2018 at John

Paul Training centre and 24 institutions participated. 46 people

attended (22 males & 42 females which included 15 youths and 31

adults). 100 handbooks distributed (50 Moyo Wanga – Kuyambira Pano

& 50 Kukhala Kholo: Ulendo Wachikondi handbooks). The activity was

aimed at raising public awareness about the project in the targeted

area and for the general awareness of the project where youth groups,

education institutions, community based organizations, local

governance structures, media and different duty bearers participated.

Group sessions

The group sessions provided a platform for different young people

who are already in organized groups such as youth groups and school

clubs to discuss issues in the Moyo Wanga - Kuyambira Pano

handbook. The activity created an open dialogue and engagement

between YAIO and young people to interact and respond to different

questions in relation to HIV/AIDS and Sexual Reproductive Health.

The group sessions were conducted on the 21st September 2018 at

Mother Theresa Children’s Centre, 28th November 2018 at Focus

Foundation School and on the 30th November 2018 at Namiwawa

Community Day Secondary School. A total of 126 people (46 males &

80 females) participated, 50 people at Mother Theresa Children’s


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Centre; 17 males & 33 females, 37 people at Focus Foundation School;

19 males & 18 females and 39 people at Namiwawa Community Day

Secondary School; 10 males & 29 females. 9 institutions participated

namely Chilomoni Youth Organisation, Chilomoni Youth Forum,

Young Mothers, Mother Theresa Children’s Centre, Chilomoni Health

Centre, Youth of Vision, Mentor for Youth Active Initiative, Focus

Foundation Private Secondary School and Namiwawa Community Day

Secondary School.

Peer Education training using Moyo Wanga – Kuyambira Pano

handbook

Five Peer Education trainings of three days each using Moyo Wanga –

Kuyambira Pano handbook were conducted to empower participants

with knowledge and skills on how best to use the handbook as well as

interact with others. The Peer Education trainings were conducted

from the 18th - 20th October, 2018 at Mother Theresa Children’s

Centre, 24th - 26th October, 2018 at Lumbira Primary School, 31st

October – 2nd November, 2018 at Mother Theresa Children’s Centre,

7th November – 9th November, 2018 at Mother Theresa Children’s

Centre and 7th November – 9th November, 2018 at Sustainable Rural

Growth and Development Initiative. 25 institutions participated

including youth groups, schools, community based organizations,

leaders of local governance structures and different duty bearers. 98

people attended (43 males & 55 females which included 38 young

males and 43 young females and 17 adults). 196 handbooks distributed

(98 Moyo Wanga – Kuyambira Pano & 98 Kukhala Kholo: Ulendo

Wachikondi handbooks). The trained peer educators were tasked to

facilitate sessions in their groups using the knowledge gained and the

handbooks received. The peer educators were encouraged to facilitate

one on one and group sessions with their peers thereby helping a lot

of young people in the targeted area to have the right information and

materials about HIV/AIDS and Sexual Reproductive Health.

Media programs:

The media programs helped raise public awareness of the project and

the handbook contents. Through the media programs, different topics

in the handbooks were discussed and shared to listeners and readers

who have not had the chance to access and read the translated Moyo

Wanga - Kuyambira Pano and Kukhala Kholo: Ulendo Wachikondi

handbooks. The project activities were featured nine (9) times on radio

and online publication (2 times sponsored on MIJ Radio, once on news

bulletin at MIJ Radio, twice on MBC Radio, once on Capital Radio,

once on Nyasatimes and twice in Malawi Scotland Partnership

Newsletter). The sponsored programs were aired on the 26th October

2018 and 1st December 2018 respectively.

Objective 2: Communication and dialogue between young people and

adults (parents, guardians, caregivers, community leaders) has improved

Young people and adults forums:

Young people and adults forums was conducted on the 12th October,

2018 at Mother Teresa Children Centre and 15 institutions


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participated. 42 people attended (14 males & 28 females which

included 23 young people and 19 adults). Young people and adults

forum created an enabling environment for young people to interact

with adults (parents, guardians, health workers, teachers, caregivers,

government authorities, the religious community and opinion leaders)

and promoted openness between young people and adults in discussing

issues that affect them in their daily lives where young people were

able to raise different health challenges they have and adults raise the

concerns they have with the young people and together reach a better

understanding.

Production of IEC materials:

This involved production of Information, Education and

Communication materials such as T/shirts to help raise the profile of

the project and printing of Moyo Wanga – Kuyambira Pano and Kukhala

Kholo: Ulendo Wachikondi handbooks which enabled the beneficiaries to

have access to information materials to use during after the project.

440 handbooks (220 Moyo Wanga – Kuyambira Pano & 220 Kukhala

Kholo: Ulendo Wachikondi handbooks) were published and 75 T/Shirts

printed.

Book Distribution

426 Moyo Wanga – Kuyambira Pano and Kukhala Kholo: Ulendo

Wachikondi handbooks were distributed to different organizations

during project activities (100 during project launch, 196 during peer

education trainings and 130 to community organizations).

Summary of Activities Outputs No. Activities

planned

during the first phase

Activities Implemented

during the first phase

Target

Achieved Percentage Means of verification

Reasons for deviations, if

any

1 Project Launch :

Project Launch :

1 1 100% Activity report

None (conducted as

planned) 30 24 institutions 80%

100

handbook to be

distributed

100 handbook

distributed

100%

50 people 46 people attended

(22 males & 42 females which

included 15 youths and 31 adults)

92%

2 Group sessions

Group sessions 3 sessions 3 sessions 100% Activity reports

None (conducted as

planned) 120 126 (46 males & 80

females)

105%

9 institutions

to be reached

9 institutions

reached

100%

3 Peer Education

training

Peer Education training

5 5 100% Activity reports

None (conducted as

planned)

100 people 98 (43 males & 55

females which included 38 young

males and 43

98% Activity

reports


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young females and

17 adults).

200

handbook to be

distributed

196 handbook

distributed

98%

26 institutions

25 institutions participated

96% Two institution did not participate

4 Media

programs

Media

programs

2 9 (2 programs

were sponsored while 7 were not

sponsored)

450% Media

reports

Some media

houses aired and published stories

about the project for free

5 Young

people and adults

forums

Young people

and adults forums

1 1 100% Field activity

reports

None

(conducted as planned)

40 people 42 people (14 males & 28 females

which included 23 young people and

19 adults).

105%

15

institutions

15 institutions

participated

100%

6 Production

of IEC materials

Production of

IEC materials

6000

handbooks) and 150

T/Shirts

440 handbooks

and 75 T/Shirts

7.3%

handbook published

while 50% of T/Shirts

printed

Delivery

notes

The funds for

Production of IEC materials

were minimal during the first

phase but the rest will be

produced during the second phase

of the project. NOTE: The

budget was for 400 handbooks

but Fattani Offset Printers gave YAIO 40

extra handbooks

7 Book Distribution

Book Distribution

400 handbooks

426 handbooks 97% Distribution record sheet

Five handbooks remained for

office use

Lessons learnt,

observations Most people (young people and adults) do not even know their roles

and responsibilities in raising children including who a child and a

parent are.

Most people do not understand better the issues of HIV/AIDS, Sex &

Sexuality, decision making, peer pressure, what love is, sexual

reproductive health including ways on how they can reach out to other

people.

.

Many social groups including youth clubs, youth organizations,

community based organizations, faith based organizations, schools and


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government departments are willing to have access to the handbooks

and use with their targets.

Young people and adult forums will help increase openness between

young people and adults on issues of HIV/AIDS and sexual

reproductive health.

Most youths gets pregnant and getting Sexual Transmitted Infections

because they are afraid and shy to go to nearby clinics to get family

planning methods while others fail to access family planning methods

because the clinics are too far from their community.

Some cultural beliefs hinder young people from accessing accurate

information on issues affecting their daily lives.

Lack of professionalism and skills among some health services

providers.

Reporting in pictures

Group discussion during young people and forum

Section of participants at the young people and adult forum


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Lauryne Sembereka and Limbani Njewa facilitating the peer education training

Presentations after group discussion during peer education training

Success stories Milca Mkorongo (Peer Educator – Chilomoni Youth Forum) “Personally, I

have benefitted from the training and the handbook and I am a living testimony

because I’m now able to make good choices or decisions. The peer education

trainings have also been beneficial to the community as the trained peer


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educators have gone flatly out reaching others with the information they gained

from the trainings which will help many young people who are the victims of

peer pressure and HIV/AIDS in our community to change from negative to

positive behaviors thereby making the project area a changed society.

As a peer educator, I have tried to educate my fellows with what I was taught.

So far I have managed to reach out to 27 people (22 from schools and 5 from

the community). It could have been hard to reach to the one ones I have if you

had not taught me. I learnt a lot from the handbook and the peer education

training and I am trying my level best to reach others with the knowledge I

have gained. I believe in educating young people because they will never depart

from it as they grow but it is also important to educate the adults because they

will be teaching the young ones. Before Youth Activists Initiative Organization

(YAIO) introduced their project in our community, I had the courage to stand

in front of people representing either a club, a class or school since primary

school but I have noted that YAIO has built a new me that is to say, I have the

full confidence to stand in front of people disregarding their age and I have also

gained the full knowledge which am sure I will spread it to many. And in the

process of reaching out to others, I was asking them to explain what they

know about HIV/AIDS and sexual reproductive health issues, but suffice to say

that most people just have the little idea but they do not have comprehensive

knowledge about HIV/AIDS and sexual reproductive health issues.

Finally, I will continue reaching out to many people so that there might be an

increase in knowledge about HIV/AIDS and sexual reproductive health issues

among the young people”.

Blessings Mapemba (Member - Youth of Vision) “Though I am a member of

a youth group called Youth of Vision, my behaviors were all not that good as I

used to abuse alcohol and drugs including sexual behaviors. But the peer

education trainings helped me understand and learn the dangers of abusing

alcohol and drugs but also unprotected sexual behaviors. The knowledge I have

gained during the training have helped me to immediately stop abusing alcohol

and drugs but also unprotected sexual behaviors. Going forward, I will use the

knowledge I have gained by sharing it with others”.

Beatrice Mafuta (Mayera Primary School– Matron) “I have benefited in

many ways. I have learnt on how I can present different messages about health

to the young learners because at first I was meeting with the learners but not

knowing actually what to do with them but now I am full and will be able to

teach them. And using all the knowledge I have gained, I will be able to teach

others especially teachers, young learners, my family and the community so

that they benefit too from the knowledge I have”.

Mathias Kalambo (Marvelous Private Secondary School - Patron) “The

peer education training has helped me gain knowledge on basic facts about

HIV/AIDS in relation to what causes it; how it affects a person’s emotional life;

not forgetting how to advise a person who is HIV positive or suffering from

AIDS. I have also accumulated knowledge on how important it is to know and

understand your sexual reproductive health. As a peer educator now, the best

way to captivate the knowledge I have accumulated here is to initiate youth

clubs especially at our school where we will be discussing issues to do with

HIV/AIDS and sexual reproductive health. I am very honored to participate in


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this training and I will spread the messages so that others can also be helped in

making wise decisions like I do”.

Deborah Namwera (Director - Walani Children’s Care Foundation) “The

peer education training has been beneficial to me in many ways. The knowledge

gained will not be used by me only but also my family and the institution I work

with. I have learnt things on different angles especially on things I thought I

knew but I did not and I have learnt all these from the peer education training.

I have gained knowledge on how I can make good decisions concerning my

future and how I should not be influenced by negative peer pressure. I have

also benefitted better by understanding in depth issues to do with sex and

sexuality and this will help me to stay away from early pregnancies, school

dropout and refraining from drugs and alcohol”.

Partnership and

Networking YAIO collaborated with 37 different partners (organizations) during

the First phase of the project namely: District Education Office,

Blantyre City Council (Social Welfare Offices and District Aids

Coordinating Offices), Blantyre Urban Youth Office, Community Based

Organizations (Chilomoni Health Centre, Environment and Nature

Reservation- ENRU, Walani Children’s Care Foundation, Sustainable

Rural Growth and Development Initiative, Malawi Scotland Partnership,

Village Development Committees, Area Development Committees and

Adult Literacy Club), Schools (Namiwawa Community Day Secondary

School, Namiwawa Primary School, Lumbira Community Day

Secondary School, Lumbira Primary School, Sigerege Primary School,

Likhubula Primary School, Namatete Primary School, Yolodani Primary

School, Mulunguzi Primary School, Mayera Primary School, St James

Primary School, Chilomoni LEA Primary School, Marvelous Private

Secondary School and Focus Private Secondary School), Faith Based

Organizations (Mother Theresa Children’s Centre and Chilomoni

Anglican Church), Youth Groups (Chilomoni Youth Forum, Chilomoni

youth Organization, Youth Consultative Forum, Youth of Vision,

Young Mothers Club and Mentor for Active Youth Initiative) and the

Media (Malawi Broadcasting Cooperation, Capital Radio, MIJ FM Radio

and Nyasatimes).

238 people (98 males &140 females) participated in the project

activities during the first phase of the project.

Specifically, YAIO also collaborated with Mother Theresa Children’s

Centre and Sustainable Rural Growth and Development Initiative who

provided meeting and training spaces for free.

Challenges Some schools especially Private Schools are not opening up in allowing

young learners to participate in the project’s activities despite being

briefed by YAIO and notified by the District Education Office i.e

Michiru Private Secondary School and Target Private Secondary

School.


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Conclusion and

Recommendations The messages in the Moyo Wanga – Kuyambira Pano handbooks is

helping young people in making informed choices on issues affecting

their lives such as peer pressure, substance abuse and HIV/Aids while

the participation of adults in the project with the aid of Kukhala Kholo:

Ulendo Wachikondi handbooks has created a platform for young people

to interact with adults thereby bridging the communication gap which

has been in existence between the two (young people & adults).

Collaboration with like-minded organizations such as district youth

offices, social welfare offices, youth organizations, community based

organizations, faith based organizations and education institutions will

help reach out to many communities.

There is need for YAIO to intensify activities aimed at increasing

comprehensive knowledge among young people on issues of HIV/AIDS

and Sexual Reproductive Health in order to address the knowledge gap

that exists among the young people.

Need for YAIO to start establishing youth linkages with the existing

health facilities and other HIV/AIDS and SRH service providers.

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