Empower Youth and Communities to Respond to HIV/AIDS

The project is based on a concept called Youth Visioning which seeks to empower young people to take action for sustainable living and development. Through this empowerment, Youth Visioning intends to encourage locally-based development of new skills and opportunities. According to the organisers, there are unique and diverse challenges facing small island states which call for special action and strategies. Youth Visioning challenges young people in island states to take initiative for health and HIV/AIDS prevention, protecting the environment, and economic development.

The project involved a number of communication activities, including the development of drama shows written and performed by the Zanzibar Theatre Group, creation of behaviour change communication materials, peer presentations, and trainings. It worked to challenge myths and misconceptions around HIV, fight discrimination, empower young people, promote their rights, and inform them about HIV prevention and transmission. Activities also sought to: create spaces for open dialogue around sexuality, sexually transmitted infections, and injection drug use; draw attention to the reality of HIV in communities in Zanzibar; recognise the rights of people living with HIV; and involve people living with HIV in campaigns and education activities.

The project activities included visits to six Shehias (grassroots level HIV committees), during which organisers performed a drama and facilitated pre- and post-show discussions. During the discussions, organisers made use of materials and presentations from the Zanzibar AIDS Commission (ZAC). These shows were specifically held for out-of-school youth. In addition, people living with HIV/AIDS were given the opportunity to make presentations. Participants at each visit, in cooperation with trained peer educators, were encouraged to create their own dramas in order to demonstrate what they learned.

The project also involved training young fishermen and their wives as peer educators. According to the organisers, 400 young fishermen and fishermen's wives increased their knowledge and skills on HIV prevention. 400 parents of young fishermen and 192 community members were also trained to better communicate with their children about HIV and to improve their understanding of HIV/AIDS.

HIV/AIDS, Youth

YOSEFO's mission is to provide financial services to Tanzania's lowest-income entrepreneurs so that they can create jobs, educate their children, live a healthy life, and improve their overall standard of living. They strive to be a leading microfinance institution in the country, serving rural and urban entrepreneurs, while operating on the commercial principles of performance and sustainability. According to the organisation, over 70% of their clients are women. YOSEFO's services include group lending, individual lending, Village Savings and Loans Associations, and micro-insurance.

In 2003, the Zanzibar AIDs Commission (ZAC) conducted a Situation and Response Analysis to prepare Zanzibar National HIV/AIDS Strategic Plan for the years 2004/5 – 2008/9. The Youth Self- Employment Foundation (YOSEFO) identified addressing the vulnerability of youth to HIV infection as a priority issue.