Taking the initiative PDF Print E-mail

Young_Learners_optYoung learners lead on HIV prevention


In South Africa, young people make up a significant part of the total population, but unlike in the past, integration of youth in strategic planning and policy development is no longer lacking.

In fact, increasing numbers of HIV prevention programmes are now partnering with young people, as they are viewed as one of our most valued assets. They bring boundless energy, passion and fresh ideas to the table, and their commitment to advocating for change is critical to building a healthy tomorrow.

OneVoice South Africa (OVSA) is a non-governmental organisation that recognises the leading role that youngsters can play in supporting a reduction in new HIV infections among young South Africans. Launched in 2005, the organisation especially believes in partnering with young people (13-19 years), as they are in a stage of transition from childhood to adolescence to adulthood; which is both a time of risk and opportunity for change.

Young people still face limited access to HIV treatment, care and information – while also battling profound stigma, ignorance and denial. Yet equally, they are without doubt leaders in their classrooms and communities; with inherent resilience needed to help themselves and others, make the best choices for a healthy future.

OVSA currently implements an interactive Schools Programme for Grade 8 learners in 74 schools across KwaZulu-Natal, Eastern Cape and the Western Cape. The programme aims to provide young people with comprehensive sex education, so that they can understand what puts them at risk and how to protect themselves AND to boost the innate capabilities of young people to protect themselves.

The programme offers nine comprehensive workshops focusing on lifeskills, sexual reproductive health, gender and human rights issues; and take into account social and cultural realities faced by young South Africans. Developed by educational experts with input from learners, teachers and OVSA staff, the programme is aligned to the HIV and AIDS/STI Strategic Plan for South Africa (NSP 2007-2011) and the National Life Orientation (LO) syllabus, while it further seeks to address current South African HIV epidemic drivers.

All workshops are presented by OVSA facilitators during class time – usually during the existing LO period.

OVSA facilitators are between 20-25 years old, are sourced from the communities in which OVSA works, and are full-time OVSA employees. All facilitators receive in-depth training, twice a year, on sexual reproductive health issues, the OVSA Schools Programme support materials and skills required to impart this information to young people.

Each workshop is 30 minutes to one hour in duration. These interactive workshops introduce lifeskills; highlight values, self-knowledge and problem-solving; and address sexual reproductive health and HIV and Aids issues. The latter includes discussion around puberty and healthy living, relationships and basic HIV and Aids information.

Toward the end of the workshop programme, learners are encouraged to develop an advocacy project around a burning issue in their communities; an exercise that includes project planning and design, project monitoring and project presentation (or implementation) as well as reflection.

The underlying premise of the Schools Programme is that it is of utmost importance that young people can call upon the necessary lifeskills to apply the information at hand effectively to their lives. Understanding what a healthy relationship is and the importance of sexual exclusivity and the negative health and social consequences of multiple concurrent partnerships are crucial if South Africa is to reduce HIV transmission.

Critical reflection and challenges

Although the programme appears to be having a positive impact on the lives of young people, there have been significant challenges while implementing the programme.

Logistical problems around identifying the ‘right’ people in the Departments of Education and Health; integration with school timetables; and obtaining parent/caregiver consent forms on time have all impacted on the expansion of the programme.

Other challenges include the safety and security of OVSA facilitators; inadequate school facilities; cultural diversity among target audiences; a lack of community support; a still limited understanding of sexual reproductive health issues; and the prevalent HIV stigma.

On a positive note

Despite these challenges, OVSA proudly views several aspects of the programme to be in line with ‘good practice’ interventions.

Programme relevancy is a top priority; and linking to the NSP, the LO syllabus and the country’s epidemic drivers ensures this.

Materials are pre-tested with the target audience, and ongoing incorporation of survey and evaluation outcomes ensures programme ‘relevancy’.

With the support from relevant role-players and stakeholders (e.g. Departments of Education and Health, parents/caregivers, learners and the community at large), the programme is replicable across South Africa. Sustainability, however, will at this stage depend on ongoing donor funding and garnering financial support from the two government departments.

At grassroots level, however, there seems to be a feeling of positivity around the programme.

Although not quantifiable yet, targeted teachers have commented that programme benefits included a change in attitude that was reflected by the conversations that learners had. They further indicated that ‘new’ discussion topics were now brought up during lessons and in free time; they felt that awareness around HIV/Aids, teenage pregnancy, smoking and substance abuse had increased.

When asked how OVSA may influence their life, one learner said: “I am HIV positive. I sometimes get sick when I’m at school, but not very sick like when I’m at home. Being sick made me scared that I think I am the only one who is sick in the whole world.

“When both my parents died, I was afraid, thinking that I was going to be left alone and have no one to look after me, but my grandmother was there with the helper from Social Welfare who sorted my problem after the death of my parents.

“Until today, I consider myself a survivor because at home we receive food parcels from Hospice and I go to school having had food like any other child,” the learner added.

“At school, I learn from OneVoice South Africa that people with my illness are like all other people and they have human rights too.”

Evidence of young people taking knowledge from the classroom to the community can also be seen with the birth of the annual HIV Awareness Day at Alphendale High School in the Eastern Cape. This 2009 advocacy project was thanks to a group of OVSA learners who decided to “speak out... and make a change!”

Convinced that their peers were in denial of the fact that everyone is affected by HIV/Aids, they developed an awareness project around HIV testing, so as to facilitate a change in attitude toward the pandemic.

The school was buzzing with excitement on the day in question.

Posters by the learners adorned the walls, encouraging young people to be aware, to protect themselves from HIV infection, and know their status. A total of 60 learners and their teachers were tested.

After the event, one learner stated: “Young people know what to do; they just need a little push in the right direction.”

Future plans for OneVoice South Africa

OVSA is anticipating rolling out in other provinces across South Africa and expanding programme scope to include more young people from different age groups (Grade 10 and 12).

Programme focus will be targeted and specific to the current realities affecting the lives of young South Africans.

Partnerships and networking with like-minded organisations will also continue to form part of OVSA’s operational structure.

These joint ventures support OVSA in remaining focused on adolescent health and topical issues.

OVSA is currently a member of the Children in Distress Network and the Caring Schools Network. It is also a member of the KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Department of Health’s Healthy Lifestyles Partnership Forum, providing input on how HIV/Aids impacts on the lives of young people in school.

Although OVSA is supported by a number of donors, funders and sponsors, it requires around R4 million a year to run the organisation and implement the Schools Programme on an ongoing basis.

OVSA is funded by USAID/Johns Hopkins University Project South Africa, Interchurch Organisation for Development Co-operation and Oxfam International

Visit www.onevoice.org.za, telephone 031 202 0555 or e-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .