Youth Advocates Zimbabwe

Using SMS and mobile internet services to reach young people with advice on HIV and other STIs, link them to quality healthcare services, and reduce their vulnerability.

Youth Care Advocates (YAZ) is being supported by Egmont to deliver an advice and counselling service through the use of SMS and mobile internet services.

Young people are able to sign up to a confidential, free-of-charge counselling service enabling them to receive individual advice and information on HIV and healthcare services that they can access. This service enables young people to manoeuvre the complex network of HIV treatment options and receive support and advice that many may fear turning to their family and friends for.

Alongside this, the project also supports clinical mentorship for frontline health workers to provide youth friendly services, implement community workshops to tackle cultural norms that disadvantage women and girls and strengthen the economic resilience of young people through training in financial literacy, savings, and vocational skills.