Addressing the HIV/AIDS challenge among school drop outs

Through the RYC Innovative Project Award (RIPA) awarded to the Malawian youth representative by the Commonwealth Youth Programme Africa Centre, it is noted that behavior is not only changed by knowledge alone but also through skills that can be put into practice. Thembi Thadzi, Commonwealth Youth Representative, Malawi, embarked on a project with a very appropriate title, “Addressing the HIV/AIDS challenge among school drop outs.” In this project, Thembi demonstrated that young people can learn skills that will enable them generate income whilst in their rural set ups thereby reducing levels of poverty, urban migration as well as their vulnerability of getting HIV and AIDS and other sexually transmitted infections.

An assessment on poverty and HIV amongst school drop outs in Malawi’s rural set ups was carried out. During this process, it was observed that a village called T/A Kalumbu, had the highest number of school drop outs and cases of HIV/AIDS were common among them. The underlying causes for pupils leaving school were poverty, responsibilities to take care of sick family members (this was mainly among the girls) and lack of parental guidance and care.

To address the above challenge, the RIPA team in collaboration with the village headman, school teachers and Agriculture Extension Officers of Kalumbu thought it necessary to identify deserving school drop outs and empower them with skills that will benefit them and the community. 6 young people were identified as primary beneficiaries of the RIPA project. To impart life long skills in these young people, livestock was purchased and distributed among them. A training in Animal Husbandly was then conducted with the aim of imparting skills on livestock production and management. The trainings imparted the beneficiaries with skills on how to build a kraal, to feed livestock with locally available feeds and its young ones and prevention of livestock diseases. These youths were empowered to empower their fellow youth in the community and are now kept busy with their newly acquired skills of taking care of livestock . A committee to supervise the project was formed. The composition of the committee includes 1 traditional leader, 3 community members, 1 teacher, 3 independent young people and the Agriculture extension worker. The reproducing livestock has led to an increase in the number of beneficiaries. Indeed what we consider to be very little can make a difference in the lives of young people.

“Thanks to the commonwealth youth program for the financial and technical support given to me during the implementation of the project. Your support has gone along way in the attainment of the project’s goal and improving the livelihood of young people in T/A Kaumbu” - Thembi Thadzi.