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• YAPL Programme still relevant in our region - Africa

YAPL Programme still relevant in our region - Africa

21 July 2008

Nearly 15 years after the conception of the Young Ambassadors of Positive Living (YAPL) programme in the Africa Region, it still remains relevant.

Faced with the mounting challenge of HIV/AIDS during the late ’80s and early ‘90s, especially with its ramifications on the youthful and production populations of member countries in the Region, CYP RCA convened a Regional Consultative workshop in Lusaka in 1993 to discuss the way forward. Of special note in the discussions was to be the issue of stigmatisation and its effect on other intervention strategies being used by stakeholder. At this meeting was 30 young people living with HI/AIDS.

The Young Ambassadors for Positive Living (YAPL) concept was thus borne following the belief that “only when people see a present and personalised danger that behavioural change can be effected”.

The YAPL programme identifies young people (ages 15-29) living with the HIV virus, builds their capacity as advocates for behavioural change and empowers them to spread the message through targeted communication strategies and self (positive living) examples.

The YAPL programme has since spread to other Regions of the Commonwealth and the CYP.

According to Victor Mensah, YESL Programme Manager at CYPRCA, “nearly 15 years after the conception of the Young Ambassadors of Positive Living (YAPL) programme in the Africa Region, it still remains relevant”. He underscored this during a year-end review meeting with Implementing Partners of the YAPL in Zambia.

The YAPL programme in the Africa Region is dedicated towards HIV/AIDS interventions for young people by young people. Speaking to visiting executives of Students Partnerships Worldwide (SPW) Zambia, YAPL Implementing partners in Zambia, Mr Mensah affirmed CYPRCA’s support to the existing partnership while looking forward to future innovations in the programme.

Since its inception, over 107 YAPLs and other affected young people in the Region have undergone training and resourced to undertake various programmes in their communities. To sustain them well after they are above age 29, CYP initiated and supported actions to encourage the formation and structuring of Networks of Persons Living with HIV/AIDS (NPLWHAs). These became the exist-point for YAPLs. CYPRCA still supports such groups in Zambia and other countries.

YAPL Adaptations

Currently CYP RCA is running several YAPL adapted projects in Zambia, Uganda, Mauritius, Swaziland and Lesotho at various stages of implementation. CYPRCA will extend this programme to other countries if recourses allow.

In these countries, CYPRCA and partner implementing agencies utilise the YAPL and School Health (HIV/AIDS) Education Programme (YAPL-SHEP) in delivering HIV/AIDS interventions by young people and for young people. Using the YAPL-SHEP models, YAPLS are placed for two-three schools terms (semesters) in a community schools (usually basic and secondary schools). They use HIV/AIDS education materials for teaching classes as part of the normal curriculum of the schools. Peer-educators clubs are formed and peer-to-peer counselling programmes instituted. Living with the community members, they also undertake special HIV/AIDS education events/activities for the community (and out of school youths) and the teachers of the schools.

This model has by far been CYPRCA’s most efficient as it allows longer contact, role modelling and effective HIV/AIDS education. M&E is more accurate and impact more assessable.