Youth

 

Limited livelihood options and high unemployment alongside reduced household income have forced many young people in Zambia out of school in search of an income to assist their families. This in turn contributes to an increased risk of HIV infection.

 

The RAPIDS program provides livelihood support to young people and promotes HIV prevention through a motivational skills-based program.

The Life Skills program provide a series of interactive topics aimed at giving youth information and skills with which to making healthy sexual choices. The program is rolled out using a cascading model to community leaders such as teachers, clergy and youth group leaders who become the Trainer of Trainers, who then train youth peer educators. They then disseminate the information and messages they have learned to their fellow youth using a variety of media including one-to-one peer counseling, drama and edu-sports. The program works with youth who are both in and out of school between the ages of 5 and 24, focusing more on older youth (15-24 year olds). 

Livelihood support is essential to achieving a reduction in risky behavior amongst youth. The Livelihoods Strategy supports a series of linked activities designed to expand youth livelihood and employment options and integrates these with abstinence promoting programs with district and community partners. Through training and practical skills building the RAPIDS livelihood strategy is designed to help youth develop capacity to qualify for internships, apprenticeships and formal employment and to create and manage small business activities. The program supports these activities by providing in-kind business inputs such as sewing machines and carpentry tools. It creates linkages to micro finances institutions to facilitate access to small business start up loans.

For more information on the RAPIDS Youth program contact Jo Musonda.