South Africa
Lesedi Lechabile Youth Program
Activity Dates
2006 – ongoing
Activity Summary
The Lesedi Lechabile Youth Program is a targeted community intervention aimed at reducing the transmission of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in young people in this mining town in Free State.
Audiences
In and out of school youth, sex workers, community members living in shack communities around mine areas/mine hostels/bars, churches
Objectives
- Reduce STIs in sex workers, their partners and the general population in the Free State mining communities
- Reduce HIV transmission in the Free State mining communities
- Promote behavior change
- Create awareness through peer education
- Promote safer sex through condom education and distribution
- Promote health-seeking behavior
- Promote utilization of HIV and STI prevention and treatment services
Implementation
- The establishment of the HIV Youth Centre was one of the project’s major achievement.
- Lesedi has a song that tells young people that, “You are a young person, decide what you want. You can abstain, you can be faithful, or you can be careful. Do what you want.”
- Schools and orientation periods offer opportunities for interventions. Valentine’s Day is celebrated by giving each of the students a Valentine with a message about STIs or HIV. Health related prizes are given out.
- Trainings are conducted for teachers, youth in schools, youth out of school, churches, and community organizations.
- A mobile unit caters for the needs of the young people in hard to reach areas. The brightly colored unit has logos on the side (“Let’s talk”), the back (“Come and learn”), and front (“My future is my choice”) written in 3 languages. The mobile unit is staffed with peer educators and visits each of Lesedi’s 5 sites every week.
- STI clinical services have treated 294 young people for STIs.
- Condom demonstrations and distribution equip young people with the knowledge and product to practice correct and consistent condom use.
- Referral systems help young people access the services they need.
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Note about materials: Some of the materials and resources listed on each page are available in their full form, others are represented by image or citation only. For more information and resources, go to www.jhuccp.org
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