YOUTH
By Own correspondent
Chitungwiza, Zimbabwe (News of The South) Youth Aspire Development Trust (YADT) has been running a Youth Hub in Chitungwiza
Under the Amplify change project “Enhancing access to Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights (SRHR) information and services.
The Youth Led Research conducted a project in Chitungwiza, which revealed that, young people especially those with disabilities still do not feel comfortable visiting a health center to ask for services like contraceptives and HIV testing.
Speaking to Wesley Nyabaya, Executive Director of Youth Aspire he said that the goal of the Youth Hub is to empower young people on their sexual and reproductive health rights, to facilitate the inclusion and participation of young people with disabilities in decision making forums at the community level and establishing functional community referral and support system for youth SRHR and HIV.
“This is largely caused by the judgmental attitudes of health service providers and lack of privacy and confidentiality at local clinics by health care providers who at times will refuse services to young people.
“Apart from that economic challenges in the country are making provision of SRHR and access to comprehensive sexuality education is becoming less of a priority.
“This is worsening the vulnerability of young people with disabilities who in turn are exposed to sexually transmitted infections, including HIV, unsafe abortions and unintended pregnancies. With these findings YADT opened a Youth Hub in Chitungwiza”, Nyabaya explained.
Nyabaya highlighted that the HUB also focuses on fostering Entrepreneurship development Training programs for young people in Chitungwiza.
He said the organization has conducted open clinics for young people to receive free HIV Testing and Family planning services. This was achieved through partnering with Population services Zimbabwe and SAT Zimbabwe.
The YADT director said the hub also functions as a centre where young people can come and collect condoms ( both male and female).
Youth Aspire Programs Manager Miss Priscilla Mapako highlighted that the Hub has given young people access to essential information on their Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights.
“Young people are usually shy or afraid to go to the main health centres to ask for condoms or on issues concerning their sexual health, so the Hub is a place where they don’t feel judged and are able to freely ask questions about their sexual health and other issues around growing up”, Mapako added.
The Youth Hub also hosts different sessions on entrepreneurship, life skills and Business talks with young people in small to medium businesses in Chitungwiza.
Speaking at the same occasion, Youth Aspire Livelihoods Officer Miss Andromedah Naringo said that “young people are able to discuss on different strategies on how to run effective businesses when they come together at the youth Hub and share ideas as peers.’
The Organization is open to partner with key stakeholders in order to support the development of young people in Chitungwiza and Zimbabwe as a whole.
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