Donor: Aidsfonds
Overview
The You(th) Care project is implemented in Zambia, Kenya, and Tanzania. Its goal is to create a more supportive policy and community environment for vulnerable adolescents and young people, particularly girls living with HIV, those out of school, and those in low-income urban areas. The project aims to strengthen health systems, enabling these individuals to practise self-care, access family planning, and prevent HIV and AIDS.
In Zambia, Copper Rose Zambia (CRZ) is implementing the You(th) Care project across 10 health facilities: four in Lusaka, two in Chilanga, three in Kitwe, and one in Kalulushi.
Objectives
To ensure that duty bearers and decision-makers improve, resource, and implement laws and policies that promote adolescents’ sexual and reproductive health (SRH) and HIV self-care needs, CRZ aims to enhance access to quality SRH and HIV services for adolescents and young people, particularly vulnerable girls.
CRZ achieves these objectives by advocating for an enabling environment for adolescent SRH and strengthening the capacity of healthcare providers, adolescent peer educators, and community health workers. This capacity building empowers them to advocate for quality SRH services and foster demand for these services at the community level.
Impact
- 245,992 adolescents and young people were empowered with essential knowledge, resources and access to SRHR and HIV services, equipping them to practise self-care, access family planning, and prevent HIV effectively through community outreaches and social media awareness campaigns.
- 53 adolescent advocates were trained in SMART advocacy techniques, strengthening their skills to raise awareness, enhance knowledge, and drive positive changes in social norms around adolescent SRHR and HIV self-care.
- Provided refresher training to 94 peer educators, enhancing their skills and knowledge for more effective outreach.
- 82 duty bearers, including teachers, community leaders, and parents were trained as champions of adolescent SRHR and HIV advocacy.
- Distributed over 39,146 condoms to promote safe sexual practices and prevent the spread of HIV.
- More than 26,500 IEC materials on self-care, HIV and SRHR were distributed, expanding access to vital information and empowering individuals to make informed health decisions.
Time frame: January 2022 – December 2025
Thematic area: Health and Wellbeing
