About SPW - Information about who we are and our unique approach to youth-led development

Population
12,746,990
Rural population
64.1 %
Life expectancy
33.1 years
GDP per capita
USD 400
HIV and AIDS prevalence rate
18%
Prevalence rate, Female (% of the population ages 15-49)
58%
Infant mortality rate (per 1, 000 live deaths)
76

Statistics from: http://devdata.worldbank.org/data-query/

According to UNICEF, the average amount of international funding received each year in southern Africa is $74 per person infected with HIV. In Zimbabwe, that figure is $4. Yet Zimbabwe has one of the highest HIV/AIDS prevalence rates in Southern Africa, with an estimated 34 percent of its adult population living with HIV/AIDS and infection rates rising alarmingly amongst adolescents.

Response

SPW Zimbabwe volunteers are able to address sensitive issues surrounding reproductive health in a way that teachers and parents find difficult to do. Volunteers are able to communicate vital information effectively and engage young people in a variety of participatory methods that develop the life skills necessary to promote positive behavior change.
The resource centres, youth centers and resource corners have been a major rallying point for Youth Led SRH activities. Young people find it easier and free to visit these centers to access information and services. Some of the centers have clinics that treat STIs and prevention of unwanted pregnancy in a youth friendly manner.
The Junior Achievement entrepreneurship programme has been part of SPW Zimbabwe efforts since 2006. It equips the unemployed young people

Key Achievements

In 2006, SPW Zimbabwe started a Youth Focused and youth led Youth Palliative care programme in Chimanimani District with the support of PACT USA.
Alongside with Population Services Zimbabwe, SPW Zimbabwe is implementing a Sexual Reproductive Health Rights programme where it has set up Youth Friendly Centres in Rural and Urban areas. The centres equip the youth with life skills, computer skills, entrepreneurship skills as well as indoor games. The centres are housed near clinics where the Youth find it easier to get STI treatment and HIV/AIDS information from youth friendly medical staff.
SPW Zimbabwe has benefited from a one year UNICEF funding on HIV/AIDS OVCs psychosocial support in Bulilima and Mangwe Districts. Through the Young People We Care Programme. Volunteers provide psychosocial support to OVCs as well as hold psychosocial support camps (PSS).
In recognition of the need to keep young people in urban centres out of risk SPW Zimbabwe has established a fully-fledged Youth Friendly Resource Centre in Plumtree town with the support from NZAID. Another resource corner has been established in Hatcliffe a low-income suburb with the support of Standard Chartered Bank. Young people come to these centres to access information on SRH as well as engage in sporting activities.

Case Study: Using sport to build local youth leadership

SPW Volunteers on the Health Education Programme outside Gwanda successfully created and facilitated the running of Aids Action clubs in all 14 placement schools, engaging and training a total of 112 local students as peer leaders. These peer leaders, in turn, helped organise a wide variety of school and community awareness raising events and activities, including a YES (Youth Education through Sport) league among all 14 placements. Eight cluster competitions were held, with halftime performances from a local student drama club on the subject of HIV prevention, effectively combining healthy communal activities with HIV prevention.

"This organisation is making a valuable contribution to the fight against HIV/AIDS in our country and has the full backing of the Ministry of Health and Child Welfare�.

Dr. D. Parirenyatwa,�the Hon. Minister for Health and Child Welfare, Zimbabwe