Olgah Daphynne Namukuza is a young volunteer with our Member Association in Uganda - Reproductive Health Uganda. She also holds various leadership positions within IPPF; she is the youth representative in the IPPF Africa Region Executive Committee, and is also an IPPF Governing Council member. What inspired Olgah to become a volunteer? What has she gained from being a volunteer? What have been her contributions as a young leader? What is her encouragement to other young people who wish to have meaningful impact in their community? In this video, Olgah tells it all. If you are young person and would like to join the Youth Action Movement, see where we work and get in touch. You can also reach us through @YAM Africa Story by Maryanne W. Waweru, Governance and Compliance Officer, IPPF Africa Region

By Maryanne W. Waweru 26-year-old Setsoto Ramatsabane is the immediate past President of the Youth Action Movement (YAM) Lesotho chapter. She joined YAM in 2014. In this article, she talks about her experiences with the youth volunteer programme at the Lesotho Planned Parenthood Association (LPPA), how these experiences have helped her grow and the doors that have opened up for her. What motivated you to join the YAM? After I had my son at the young age of 20 years, I knew that I had to plan my life well in order to achieve the goals that I had set for myself. With that resolve, I went to seek information on family planning from the Lesotho Planned Parenthood Association (LPPA) clinic in my home area of Mafeteng. I had heard that the clinic provided good family planning services. While receiving services at the LPPA clinic, I also learned about the Youth Action Movement (YAM), where young volunteers regularly went to schools to educate students on topics such as puberty, adolescence, menstruation and making healthy choices about their bodies. This interested me very much because, with my personal experience as a young mother, I felt inspired to talk to teenage girls. I wanted to give them advice about how they could avoid teen pregnancy and stay focused on their studies. When I was in school, no one had given me this kind of information. Driven by this desire, I joined the Youth Action Movement and began going to schools to talk to adolescents about sexual and reproductive health. We tailored our information sessions to tackle issues such as menstrual hygiene, peer pressure, abstinence and safe sex. We also talked to them about how to be firm about their decisions. I also participated in out-of-school outreaches where we would talk to young adults about similar issues. Through our work, we were able to reach thousands of young people with information about their reproductive health. How Being a Youth Volunteer Helped me Grow Being a volunteer with YAM helped me grow in many ways. For starters, I was a very shy girl before I joined the group. I couldn’t speak in front of people. But the more I participated in outreach activities where I was given the opportunity to talk to fellow youth, I began believing in my ability to speak before a crowd. Gradually, I became bolder and more confident. Today, I can address a multitude of people! I have also refined my poetry skills through my engagement with YAM. While in school, I used to write poems but kept them to myself because I was afraid that they were not good enough. But as I interacted with my fellow youth volunteers, I started sharing my poems with them and I was surprised when they said they were good. Encouraged, I started writing more poems and performing them to my peers. My poems focused on issues such as relationships, HIV and AIDS, peer pressure etc. With time, I started reciting the poems during outreaches and at LPPA functions. Then I started being called upon to perform at other public functions where there were government officials and other NGOs. Sometimes I'm amazed at how far I have come, from the shy girl afraid of crowds, to a great performer. All thanks to the confidence I gained through my engagement with YAM.   Tell Us About Your Leadership as the YAM President I became interested in leadership because I wanted to be the female leader that younger girls could look up to. I wanted to set an example of myself, where girls would be encouraged to know that they too can rise to top leadership positions. I started off by vying for the Mafeteng YAM Chairperson position in 2015, where I was successful. The following year, I was elected the YAM President. As the YAM national Chairperson, I served in the LPPA National Executive Committee (NEC) as the youth representative. Being in this position helped me learn a lot, including how to prepare various reports (financial reports, program reports, annual reports etc). I also learnt about the importance of governance structures and effective management in an organization. Often, I would be called upon to represent LPPA in various forums with different stakeholders, especially on issues concerning youth. Having experienced the benefits of being a volunteer, I purposed to get as many other young people on board. One of the successes credited to my leadership is the increased number of youth volunteers in LPPA. What do you Hope to Be In The Future? I hope to become a successful author. In addition to my poems, I have written two books; one in English titled ‘The Show Goes On’. This is the story of a young woman who became pregnant and consequently underwent various challenges but with a strong will, she managed to overcome them. It is basically my story. The second book is written in the local Sesotho language. It is titled Kili ea malla paka mahlomola. The book is a collection of short stories about issues that affect adolescents face as they grow up. None of the books have been published yet, but I’m hoping this will happen soon. Tell us About your Current Job I am a youth ambassador working on an advocacy project for the rights of Young Persons Living with HIV/AIDS (YPLWHA) with an NGO in Mafeteng. I believe I got the job because I had the necessary knowledge, skills and experiences that were required for the role. All these I had acquired while volunteering with LPPA in the youth program. In addition, my role in the LPPA board where I honed my leadership skills was an added advantage. My encouragement therefore to young people, is that they should look for volunteer opportunities in organizations that align well with their goals. It is these opportunities that will help them create change in their communities and will also help them grow as individuals. I’m certainly not the same person I was when I joined LPPA six years ago. I have grown tremendously! If you are young person and would like to join the Youth Action Movement, see where we work and get in touch. You can also reach us through @YAM Africa Maryanne W. Waweru is the Governance and Compliance Officer, IPPF Africa Region. For more information about the work of IPPF Africa Region, connect with us on Facebook and Twitter.   

By Maryanne W. Waweru 22-year-old Jyer Steven Magnondo is the President of the *Youth Action Movement (YAM) in IPPF’s Member Association in Congo Brazzaville - Association Congolaise pour le Bien-Etre Familial (ACBEF). Jyer is also a 3rd year university student pursuing studies in Business Administration. In this interview with Maryanne W. Waweru, Jyer talks about his involvement in voluntarism activities at ACBEF, and his passion for sharing sexual reproductive health information with adolescents and youth. What Inspired You to Join the Youth Action Movement (YAM)? I joined YAM in 2010. My joining was largely influenced by one particular incident. It so happened that a relative of mine had procured an unsafe abortion that had led to several health complications for her. She almost lost her life! This incident shocked and saddened me. This experience led my mother, who has been an ACBEF volunteer for years, to encourage me to join the youth group at ACBEF so that I could gain more information on sexual reproductive health. My mother believed that gaining this knowledge would in turn help me educate my friends about making responsible choices about their sexuality. I heeded my mother’s advice and became a member of the ACBEF Youth Action Movement. Describe Your Involvement in the Youth Action Movement at ACBEF Since the time I joined the Youth Action Movement, I have gained a wealth of information on different issues such as abstinence, condom use, teenage pregnancy, unsafe abortions and Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs). I have also learnt a lot about HIV and AIDS. As I learn, I in turn share this information with thousands of young people, ensuring that they are just as educated. This I continue to do through participating in outreach activities targeting adolescents and young people both in and out of schools. I believe our work is having a positive effect in the community. Since many young people today spend a significant amount of their time on the internet, I continue to actively use different social media platforms to increase the number of young people reached with this important information. You can follow our conversations here: (@Maj_Congo ) What are Some of The Benefits You Have Realized by Being a YAM Member? Being a YAM member has helped me in different ways. I have become more enlightened on issues of youth sexual reproductive health and rights. As a result, I have been able to make responsible decisions regarding my behaviour.  Also, with the knowledge gained, I have become an advocate for young people and their access to youth-friendly information and services. I have been able to speak in different forums both at the national and regional levels as a youth advocate. I have also participated in various proposal writing activities, and I now can say I know what it takes to write a winning proposal for funding of projects. I have been involved in project planning and implementation – something that has required me to work in a team to achieve desired results. My volunteer activities in YAM have also enabled me to meet new people, hence strengthening my social network. As the YAM President, I have increased my knowledge about governance, and strengthened my leadership, communication and management skills. All these opportunities I have accessed on account of my YAM membership and the skills I am gaining are all helping me grow in my career path and preparing me for the workforce. What have been some of your achievements as the YAM President? Since my election as the YAM ACBEF President in 2016, I have been able to revive the activities in some YAM branches in the country -more so those that were dormant.  I have also worked with the youth and the ACBEF staff at the national level to advocate for Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE). Through my leadership, over 140 young volunteers have been trained on CSE. I intend to continue championing the CSE agenda in Congo, because I believe CSE has immense benefits for young people. CSE helps young people gain the knowledge and skills they need to make wise decisions about their sexuality and reproductive health.   What is your parting shot? I always encourage young people to identify volunteer opportunities in credible organizations. Being engaged in this way will help them gain invaluable information and skills that will help them grow as individuals. The lessons learned and the experience gained from their voluntarism activities will also help prepare them for the job market. Being a volunteer with the Youth Action Movement has provided me with invaluable opportunities, and so I encourage other youth to join YAM in their countries. Maryanne W. Waweru is the Governance and Compliance Officer, IPPF Africa Regional Office. *About the Youth Action Movement (YAM)  The Youth Action Movement (YAM) is the youth arm of IPPF Africa Region's volunteer body based within the Member  Associations (MAs), which catalyzes youth participation. The YAM structure enhances consultation and involvement of the youth. Recognizes the value of young people in health and development, the YAM enhances youth leadership in the Member Associations and beyond. If you are young person and would like to join the Youth Action Movement, see where we work and get in touch. You can also reach us through @YAM Africa For more information about the work of IPPF Africa Region, connect with us on Facebook and Twitter.  Also Read: The Story of Nthati Thokoa, Lesotho's YAM President The Story of Ambrose Akanyihayo, Uganda's YAM President

By Maryanne W. Waweru 22-year-old Nthati Thokoa is the National President of the Youth Action Movement (YAM) in IPPF’s Member Association in Lesotho. She is an active volunteer in the Lesotho Planned Parenthood Association (LPPA) clinic in Mohale’s Hoek district, which is her home area. In this article, Nthati talks about her experiences as a YAM member, her rise to the YAM leadership, and her vision for Lesotho’s youth. By Maryanne W. Waweru How I got to learn about the Youth Action Movement (YAM) I joined YAM when I was 19 years old. I remember that day vividly. It was during celebrations to mark World AIDS Day at Mohale’s Hoek. While there, I noticed a group of young people sharing information with their peers about safe sex, HIV prevention, and other details about sexual reproductive health. Attracted to their messages, I moved closer. Then I moved closer again. As I listened to them talk about issues that affect young people, my heart was filled with total admiration. After the event, I approached one of the members, a lady, since I wanted to learn more about this youth group. The lady informed me that they were youth peer educators from the Lesotho Planned Parenthood Association (LPPA). She also briefed me about the Youth Action Movement (YAM) and the work they do with young people both in and out of schools.   How I Became a YAM Member After my conversation with her, I became interested in joining YAM. To get better insights, I began going to the LPPA clinic in Mohale’s Hoek to learn more about YAM. After doing so for a few weeks, I became convinced that it was a worthwhile initiative. That’s when I registered as a YAM member. Upon my joining, I was taken through a thorough induction about LPPA’s mission and my roles and responsibilities as a peer educator. I then began going for outreach activities in schools with fellow peer educators, where we would provide reproductive health education to pupils and students. We would also take these messages to out-of-school youth in towns and villages in Mohale’s Hoek.  From my experience, I have come to learn that many adolescents and youth in Lesotho face serious challenges about their sexual health. They include lack factual information on safe sex, peer pressure, unwanted pregnancies, high HIV infection rates, Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) and lack of access to quality youth-friendly reproductive health services. I’m glad that through our outreach activities to both in and out-of-school populations, thousands of Lesotho youth have been reached with information on reproductive health, which has helped them make healthy decisions about sex. We have also encouraged them to access youth-friendly services at LPPA clinics. I believe our work as peer educators has helped hundreds of adolescents and young people in Lesotho avoid engaging in risky behaviour, practice safe sex, prevent unwanted pregnancies and Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) including HIV, among others. How I have benefited from being a YAM member Since I joined LPPA as a peer educator, I have gained immense knowledge and skills about youth sexuality. I have participated in several trainings on adolescent and youth sexual reproductive health including Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE). This has expanded my knowledge in this area, which I have in turn shared with my peers. As a peer educator, I have also learned about advocacy as our role sees us often engage with school Principals, community leaders, elders, Parliamentarians, policy-makers and other key influencers. Whenever we need to conduct an outreach activity in an area such as a town or village, we first seek the audience of the Chief, explain our mission and seek their authorization to proceed with our activities. Without the engagement and support of these leaders, it would be difficult to achieve success in our work as peer educators. My Training as an HTS Counsellor LPPA regularly holds training activities for its volunteers, including YAM members. In 2017, I was privileged to attend a ‘Master of Trainers’ workshop for peer educators. After that, I applied for a training course in HIV Testing Services (HTS) and was privileged to be among the few who were selected. Following the training, I returned to LPPA’s Mohale’s Hoek clinic as an HTS counsellor. In 2018, the Ministry of Health held a refresher course for all HTS counsellors (also called lay counsellors) in Mohale’s Hoek district, which I attended. Aside from gaining new skills and information, I benefited greatly from the networking opportunity with other healthcare workers. A few months later, the Ministry of Health called me for work as a lay counsellor in one of the public health facilities in Mohale’s Hoek. I feel so happy because I owe it all to LPPA, which first trained me as a peer educator, a master of trainers, and later as an HTS counsellor. I never had to pay for any of these trainings. My Journey to YAM Leadership When the elections for the YAM Mohale’s Hoek branch came up in 2017, my peers encouraged me to try out for the chair’s position. I was surprised by this, since I had never thought of myself in that way. However, they told me that I had already shown good leadership in how I organized and facilitated YAM outreaches, and how I had demonstrated such zeal and passion in doing so. They expressed confidence in my ability to be their leader and with this encouragement, I vied for the top position. I was grateful when my peers elected me as the Mohale’s Hoek branch YAM chairperson in 2017. YAM National President In 2018, my fellow youth elected me as the YAM Lesotho National President. I took on this challenge because I believed in my ability to articulate the issues affecting young people and be their advocate. My capacity as the National President qualifies me to be a member of the National Executive Committee (NEC). Being in the LPPA Board has been a great opportunity for me to hone my leadership skills. As a Board member, I am involved in preparing reports, presentations, engaging in research, as well as making strategic decisions about LPPA and its future. The role I play in the organization's board continues to be a profound learning experience for me! Social Media for Adolescent and Youth SRHR As the National President, I have purposed to ensure that more young people with health information by taking advantage of social media. This is because many young people today use different social media platforms as their primary source for news and information. One only needs to look at their different online conversations to realize that there is a lot of misinformation being shared among them. It is imperative that they have access to accurate SRHR information that will help them make informed choice about their sexuality. To this end, we have intensified our use our social media activities on Facebook (LPPA Thakaneng), Instagram and Twitter to provide information and interact with youth from across the country. We have also used these platforms to increase the YAM membership. My future plans My work as an LPPA volunteer and as a counselor has helped me realize my passion; that of working with young people. Because of this, I intend to pursue a career in Psychology, with a focus on youth. My current job as an HTS counselor is helping me save money that will enable me to soon enroll for a degree course in Psychology. Encouragement to other youth I’d like to encourage fellow youth to identify credible organizations like through which they can volunteer their services. I am an example of someone whose life experience has been enriched by my volunteer activities at LPPA. I have gained skills in facilitation, counseling and proposal writing, research, report-writing, community mobilization and resource mobilization, among others. These are skills that will prepare me adequately for the job market. My experiences continue to help me become a better leader. All thanks to LPPA’s vibrant youth program! If you are young person and would like to join the Youth Action Movement, see where we work and get in touch. You can also reach us through @YAM Africa Maryanne W. Waweru is the Governance and Compliance Officer, IPPF Africa Region. For more information about the work of IPPF Africa Region, connect with us on Facebook and Twitter.  Also Read: Why Do I Volunteer? Ambrose Akanyihayo's Story

25-year-old Bahlakoana Malelu is a volunteer with the Lesotho Planned Parenthood Association (LPPA). LPPA is IPPFAR’s Member Association in Lesotho. In this article, Bahlakoana talks about his experiences as a youth volunteer with LPPA. “I came to learn about LPPA when I was in high school. This was when an organized group of young people, who informed us they were peer educators from LPPA, regularly came to our school to talk to us about different issues affecting adolescents and young people. The topics they covered included: puberty, adolescence, boy-girl relationships, our bodies and sexuality among other issues. This was in 2010-2011. I remember always being so impressed by how knowledgeable the peer educators were about sexual and reproductive health, and how confident they were in their delivery of messages. After I completed high school, I visited the LPPA clinic in Maseru called Thakaneng as I wanted to reconnect with these peer educators. I was interested in being a part of the team. At Thakaneng, I got to learn more about the activities of the peer educators under the Youth Action Movement (YAM) program. Convinced that it was a worthwhile venture, I joined YAM. This was in 2014. YAM is the youth arm of IPPF Africa Region’s volunteer body based within the Member Associations (MAs), and which catalyzes youth participation. Youth-Corners at LPPA Clinics As a youth peer educator with YAM, we would undertake outreaches in schools, colleges, market places, sports grounds and other places where young people congregate. We would talk to the youth about their sexual reproductive health and share information about the youth corners at LPPA clinics. The youth corners in LPPA clinics are spaces specially designed for young people, where they can hang out freely with their peers; make friends, discuss trending issues, debate on them and share information on different topics such as sexuality. At these corners you’ll find a selection of fun and engaging games, computers (with access to internet), magazines and a television set among others -all of which we young people like. We are also able to access youth-friendly reproductive health services at LPPA through the youth corners. Parents Discussing Sex with their Children is Taboo Before I became a volunteer youth peer educator, my knowledge about sexual reproductive health was quite limited, I must say. As a typical Mosotho man, I never had the chance to discuss issues of sex with my parents. Culturally, parents in Lesotho don’t discuss such topics with their children as it is considered taboo, so children are forced to seek this information from other sources such as their friends or the media. Unfortunately, this information oftentimes is inaccurate and very misleading. Being a part of YAM helped broaden my knowledge and understanding of sexual and reproductive health. I then purposed to share this information with as many adolescents and young people as possible as I believed this would help them make informed decisions about their sexuality. This is something I continue to do to date. Interestingly, as YAM, we also reach out to parents and advise them to have candid conversations with their children about sex, as they are important in helping their children get the right information. We encourage parents to be more approachable to their children when it comes to issues of sex, and not sweep them under the carpet. The response from the parents we have talked to has been positive, and this motivates us to keep reaching out to more parents.    My Personal Growth My engagement as a youth volunteer with LPPA has helped me grow as a young person. My facilitation skills have been enhanced and I am now a Trainer-of-Trainers. This means that I train young peer educators who in turn participate in outreach activities targeting both in-school and out-of-school youth. My behavior has also changed, in the sense that I am more responsible and cautious about the activities I engage in. This is because, my role as a volunteer with a credible organization like LPPA, a Trainer-of-Trainers, a mentor to young people and a role model to them, I feel motivated to be more accountable both to myself and to other people, especially the youth. I feel very proud being a youth volunteer with LPPA because I know that I am contributing to change in my community, especially among young people." Story by Maryanne W. Waweru, Governance and Compliance Officer, IPPF Africa Region. Learn more about Lesotho Planned Parenthood Association (LPPA) here. For more information about the work of IPPF Africa Region, connect with us on Facebook and Twitter.  Also Read: Accessing Quality Health Services as a Sex Worker was Very Difficult, Until I Went to LPPA's Thakaneng

By Maryanne W. Waweru 31-year-old Kekeletso Lisebo* is a peer educator with Lesotho Planned Parenthood Association (LPPA). LPPA is IPPFAR’s Member Association in Lesotho. Kekeletso has been involved in the organization’s activities since 2011 when she participated in the Morning Star Project. The Morning Star project, implemented by LPPA, sought to empower sex workers with the information and skills necessary to help them make informed decisions about their sex work and their reproductive health. It also aimed to address the challenges that this key population faces in accessing quality healthcare. Through the project, sex workers were able to access information and services offered by LPPA, and which were specifically tailored to their needs. Kekeletso, a mother of two children aged 10 years and 2 years, talks to us about her experiences as a sex worker, her participation in LPPA's projects, and her role as a volunteer peer educator with LPPA.  “My first interaction with LPPA was when they came to one of the sex hotspots in Lesotho’s capital city of Maseru -where I was based. During the outreach, LPPA health workers talked to us about the importance of practicing safe sex during our work. Some of the issues they covered included: family planning, the need for correct and consistent condom use, prevention of unwanted pregnancies, HIV and other Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI), the importance of adherence to HIV/AIDS medication and the need for regular pap smears to help prevent cervical cancer, among others. I was very interested in the information they shared because, as a mother (I had one child then), it was very important for me to be of good health in order to provide for my family. After the discussions, they invited us to enroll in the Morning Star project, which I did without hesitation. Shunned in Health Centers Because of Sex Work Before I joined the project, it was difficult to access health services. My fellow sex workers and I would often be looked down upon whenever we sought services at health centers. Many are the times we would be pushed to the back of the queue as other clients were served first, even though we had arrived earlier. Because they knew we were sex workers, with many of us seeking treatment for Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs), the nurses would use harsh and undignified words on us, accusing us of smelling bad and being ‘ungodly’. This constant ridicule hurt us deeply; discouraging us from seeking services. We would only go when our ailments were unbearable; as a last and inevitable resort. That is why we were excited to learn that LPPA, through the Morning Star project was willing to offer us services that were sensitive to our needs. But the good news did not end there. They told us that we would access the services we needed at no cost! Accessing Integrated High-Quality Services When my friends and I went to the LPPA clinic in Thakaneng, we were so impressed! The facility was clean and spacious. The nurses treated us just like any other regular client and for the first time, we did not feel as though we were being judged based on our work or the ailments we presented with. This made us feel at ease and we opened up about our health needs. One other aspect we liked about the LPPA Thakaneng clinic was that we would access multiple services that were provided by one nurse –in one consultation room. Without having to move from one room to another and meeting different service providers, we were able to get different services such as family planning, STI treatment, free condoms, pap smears, HIV testing, prenatal care, counselling and ARV services among others; depending on one’s need. No one could even tell what service an individual had gone for. This kind of privacy and convenience is very important to us. Referring Fellow Sex Workers to LPPA Due to the satisfactory services I got from the clinic, I quickly spread the word about LPPA to all my friends. I encouraged them to visit Thakaneng to experience superior quality of services; offered in an extremely professional manner. I was able to refer over 200 sex workers for services to the LPPA clinic. Becoming a Volunteer Peer Educator Happy with LPPA’s services, I became an advocate for the organization, eventually becoming a volunteer peer educator. In this capacity, I continued my mobilization efforts targeting both women and men (including men who have sex with men) engaged in sex work in Maseru. Today, my work as an LPPA volunteer peer educator sees me move from one sex hotspot to another sharing information about safe sex and distributing both male and female condoms –which are in abundant supply (and for free) from LPPA. These hotspots include bars, night clubs, lodgings, hotels and streets. Challenges in Mobilizing other Sex Workers Mobilizing my fellow sex workers for services has its own challenges though. There is a lot of misinformation among this population. For example, when I encourage them to go for HIV testing, they say they don’t need to do so because they ‘feel fine’. Two years ago, I lost a close friend -a fellow sex worker to HIV/AIDS complications. Once, when we were discussing our HIV positive status, I referred her to the LPPA clinic with the suggestion of being put on Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) just like I was. However, she refused, saying that she ‘felt fine’ and was not sick. Yet, from the knowledge I had gained as a peer educator, I knew that antiretroviral drugs help keep one’s viral load low, help keep their immune system strong and thus improve their quality of life. Afterall, I was a living testimony of this. I tried explaining this to her, but she said that I was just being paranoid for nothing. Sadly, months later, when an opportunistic infection attacked her, it took her down so fast and killed her in just a few weeks. It always brings tears to my eyes whenever I think about my friend because I believe it was a death that could have been avoided –if only she had started taking her ARVs. Being a Role Model Being HIV positive I religiously take my ARVs -which I thankfully get for free at LPPA. I believe this is what has helped me remain healthy and strong. I became pregnant with my second child while I was involved with LPPA activities and through their Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission (PMTCT) program, I am happy to say that my two-year-old daughter is HIV negative. I feel proud when my fellow sex workers tell me that I am their role model. They say that I am an example of how one can live a healthy and robust life even though they are HIV positive. They see my determination and zeal in all that I do; as a mother who provides sufficiently for her children, a colleague, a peer educator and community mobilizer, and they feel inspired. Navigating Sex Work While it’s Illegal in Lesotho The fact that sex work is illegal in my country is a great challenge for me and my friends. Many times, we are harassed by clients who abuse us verbally and physically. Clients intimidate us into having unprotected sex with them. Many of us have been raped -some multiple times. Sometimes they even refuse to pay for our services, knowing very well that we cannot report them to the police because our work is illegal. With many of us being single mothers, we dare not let this happen because when we get arrested and locked up, who will fend for our children? I believe that if sex work were legalized, then these abusive incidents would reduce. If we have a legal system that can protect us, then we will be free to report our abusers and advocate for justice and more conducive working environments. In the meantime, we remain grateful to organizations such as LPPA that genuinely cater to our healthcare needs. I can testify that my life and those of other sex workers in Maseru are so much better because of LPPA's Thakaneng!” Kekeletso Lisebo* (not her real name). Her name has been concealed to protect her identity. She narrated her story to Maryanne W. Waweru, the Governance and Compliance Officer, IPPF Africa Region. Learn more about Lesotho Planned Parenthood Association (LPPA) here. For more information about the work of IPPF Africa Region, connect with us on Facebook and Twitter. 

LPPA recently achieved its certificate following the organization's success in the 3rd cycle of Accreditation. As a global sexual and reproductive health and rights movement, IPPF expects all Member Associations to uphold and promote it’s well-defined 10 Principles of Membership, and to comply with the Standards defined for each Principle. The Accreditation process is based on these 10 Principles and related Standards, which require that a Member Association is: Open and democratic Well governed Strategic and progressive Transparent and accountable Well managed Financially healthy A good employer Committed to results Committed to quality, and A leading SRHR organization in its country Following LPPA’s Accreditation success, we had a chat with Executive Director Mr. Lerotholi Pheko on what this achievement means for the organization. Credibility with Partners and Donors "That we have been recognized as a fully accredited member of the Federation by IPPF’s Governing Council; the Federation’s highest decision-making body is a great source of pride for us. This form of recognition means that LPPA is in full compliance with IPPF’s stipulations, something that has not only boosted our confidence in the work that we do, but it has also significantly enhanced our organization’s standing among different partners, stakeholders and the donor community in Lesotho. IPPF is a highly reputable institution and being fully accredited with it means that ours is an organization of integrity; one with good governance and management structures in place, and one that is able to meet most donor requirements for partnership. Indeed, getting to where we are today was not a one-off operation, but a steadfast journey. The onus on us now, is to strive to ensure that we continue to uphold and meet these Standards in our daily operations. This is something we are committed to doing as it will help us better our organization, even as we continue to deliver on our mandate; that of ensuring that the Lesotho population, more so the poor, marginalized, socially excluded and the under-served have access to a wide range of quality sexual reproductive health and services. The role of LPPA Volunteers and Staff I give credit to the team of LPPA staff and volunteers who worked very hard to ensure that the organization met all the requirements for Accreditation success. Our staff strived to ensure that they diligently undertook all their responsibilities as required, with the volunteers delivering on their oversight mandate and always being available to assist when called upon. Granted, there were some challenges along the way, but as a team, we were able to overcome them. Being fully accredited as an IPPF Member Association has heightened our resolve to continue elevating LPPA’s standing as the leading Non-Governmental organization in matters of sexual reproductive health and rights in Lesotho." Read more about Lesotho Planned Parenthood Association (LPPA). Mr. Lerotholi Pheko spoke to Maryanne W. Waweru, Governance and Compliance Officer, IPPF Africa Region.

By Maryanne W. Waweru IPPF’s Member Association in Cape Verde - Association Capverdienne pour la Protection de la Famille (VERDEFAM) was established in 1995 with the mission to defend, promote and guarantee people’s accessibility in the the area of Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR). VERDEFAM endeavors to provide quality health information and services to all, more so the youth, vulnerable and most-at-risk populations. VERDEFAM implements its activities through its centers found in seven municipalities in Cape Verde. To achieve its objectives, VERDEFAM works closely with a host of partners including the government, civil society organizations, the media and other national and international institutions. Reaching Vulnerable Populations with Services    One of the major health challenges that vulnerable populations in Cape Verde face is their access to quality Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) information and services. These populations include: sex workers, drug users, migrants, Men who have Sex with Men (MSM), migrant populations, the poor and other populations in resource-limited settings. Driven by the need to improve these vulnerable populations’ access to quality, safe and effective services, VERDEFAM expanded its service delivery approaches through introduction of mobile clinics. An initiative started in 2010, the mobile clinics are well-equipped mobile vans that are run by skilled healthcare workers including; a doctor, nurse, psychologist and social workers. The intervention by VERDEFAM targets these populations by locating the mobile clinics in strategic places where these populations are found, such as in entertainement spots, night clubs, bars and music festivals. The mobile clinics are open every working day, some weekends and during the night. The mobile clinics are found on the islands of Santiago, São Vicente, Sal and Boa Vista. Through these mobile clinics, VERDEFAM offers a wide range of sexual and reproductive health services including: Family planning Counseling on Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) Information about abortion and unsafe abortion Promotion of good health practices Screening and treatment for HIV and other Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) inlcuding hepatitis, chlamydia and syphilis Promotion and distribution of condoms Support for drug users Counseling and screening for breast, uterus and prostate cancer Peer-Peer Approach for Increased Service Delivery To enhance its reach to these vulnerable populations, VERDEFAM identified and trained a select group of Men who have Sex with Men (MSM) and sex workers. The trained 15 MSM and 12 sex workers were imparted with the knowledge and skills necessary for them to reach out to their peers with information about sexual and reproductive health. The volunteer peer educators also mobilize and refer their peers to VERDAFAM clinics where they are assured of accessing a variety of sexual reproductive health services. To reach more people, VERDEFAM participates in health fairs and other related exhibitions. Participating in these forums has increased the visibility of VERDEFAM and enabled it to reach more people with SRHR information and services. Benefits of the Mobile Clinics The mobile clinics have enhanced VERDEFAM’s collaboration with local organizations, institutions, Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and community members. The mobile clinics have presented high visibility for VERDEFAM and has helped the MA reaffirm its position as the leading NGO in sexual reproductive health in the country. The media reports on local television and radio stations have also boosted this visibility The mobile clinics have facilitated the involvement of VERDEFAM volunteers, including members of the Youth Active Movement (YAM) who participate in community awareness and mobilization activities Proximity of Health Services Influences Uptake by Populations   Through this initiative, VERDEFAM has established that proximity is a key determining factor in the uptake of sexual reproductive health services, especially among vulnerable and most-at-risk populations. Taking health services closer to them; where they are found, leads to their increased uptake of services in a timely manner. Partners and donors have commended VERDEFAM for this intervention, recognizing it as a good tool for health services. This mobile clinic intervention was identified as one of VERDEFAM’s Good Practices during the 3rd Cycle of Accreditation. A Good Practice is an activity or practice that has been proven to work and yields positive results. The sharing of Good Practices by IPPF Member Associations offers learning experiences for their counterparts. Connect with VERDEFAM on Facebook here. Also Read: Reproductive Health Uganda and Lesotho Planned Parenthood Association Receive Accreditation Certificates For more information about the work of IPPF Africa Region, follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

Amina, a 24 year-old lady has been a sex worker for years. Her operation base is Eldoret town, in Kenya’s Rift Valley province. During the implementation of the Shujaa Project by Family Health Options Kenya (FHOK) in Eldoret, Amina was identified and brought on board to be a lead contact to a group of sex workers in the town. She was also recruited to be a peer educator for the Access, Services and Knowledge (ASK) project, a three-year project which targeted young people in the age group of 10-24 years. Through ASK, she received respective training, which enhanced her capacity to reach out to fellow sex workers with reproductive health information and services.   Following the training, Amina became influential in mobilizing sex workers during campaigns and community outreaches. She says: "I have been doing this work for a while now. When I came in contact with the FHOK’s health center in Eldoret, I Iearnt a lot about sexual reproductive health, and the wide range of services that I can access from the clinic. This included HIV testing services through their Voluntary Counseling and Testing (VCT). My experience with them has been life-saving, literally!” Amina did well especially in distribution of condoms and attending girls forum that were conducted by the ASK project team. Besides learning from the SRH discussions, Amina would go out and share this information with her friends. She also referred many of them to access services at the FHOK clinic, where she was guaranteed they would receive quality services. The overall objective of the project was to improve the use of SRHR services by young people (10-24 years) through demand creation, provision of youth-friendly information and services (including commodities), and ensuring public private partnerships with a greater respect for young people’s sexual rights. It was implemented in the five countries of Senegal, Uganda, Kenya, Ethiopia and Ghana.

Africa’s young people are the primary vehicle for realizing the demographic dividend and the principal engine for fostering development at all levels. An African Union (AU) Assembly decision in January 2016 established the theme for 2017 as “Harnessing the Demographic Dividend Through Investments in Youth.” The Demographic Dividend in Africa Relies on Investments in the Reproductive Health and Rights of Adolescents and Youth. This document extrapolates this.