Jake Glaser opened the morning with a strong message of courage in fighting stigma related to HIV and calling on the youth to not let their circumstances or heath define who they are. This message set the stage for a morning of empowerment, asking the youth to use this platform to call governments and NGOs to action.

Poverty exposes children to emotional risks, violence and higher rates of HIV. Recognizing that youth play a critical role in addressing some of the world’s most significant developmental challenges, This Nelson Mandela day RIATT-ESA is highlighting the young peoples role on #ActionAgainstPoverty

Despite the efforts invested by governments, donors and others to reduce the burden of disease including HIV, they are still to achieve the desired effect. There is a need for new development approaches that take into consideration the cultural beliefs and practices of the people.

Since I attended the RIATT-ESA sponsored Children's Conference at the Psychosocial Support Conference in 2015, I have had meetings with stakeholders including government officials, MPs, partner organizations, etc. 

Continuation of the youth highlights from AIDS 2016 Nothing About Us with Out Us- Messages from the youth (Part 1) 

From July 17, 2016 to July 22, 2016 RIATT-ESA advocated for the needs of children and adolescents at the International AIDS Conference (AIDS 2016), in Durban South Africa. 

This blog looks at the links between early sexual activity, pregnancy and child marriage. Highlighting the urgent need for programmes and policies that address early sexual activity in order to put an end to child marriage in Africa.

RIATT-ESA in collaboration with REPSSI and the ACCZ  recently held a series of dialogues with members of the Apostolic Church and the Zion Church. This group of churches is known to accept the practise of child marriages and discourage its members from accessing public medical and educational services. The dialogues and accompanying Information, Education and Communication (IEC) materials reached more than 50 000 members in 4 of the 10 provinces of Zimbabwe in April and May 2016.