My Age Zimbabwe Trust, the Swedish Embassy in Zimbabwe, Population Services Zimbabwe, and young people in Zimbabwe collaborated to create the Going Digital Toolkit. The Digital Interventions Toolkit supports the sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) of young people. The toolkit explores the opportunities and challenges posed by digital technology in improving young people’s access to Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) information.

It also offers guidance and best practices for creating and implementing evidence-based digital interventions to support young people’s SRHR information and services. The toolkit explores the best practices and opportunities posed by digital technology in improving young people’s access to Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) information. It also offers guidance and best practices for creating and implementing evidence-based digital interventions to support young people’s SRHR information and services. This comprehensive resource aims to equip individuals, communities, and organizations with the necessary tools and strategies to harness the power of digital technologies and foster a more inclusive and technologically-savvy society for the young people.

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The toolkit encompasses a wide range of digital interventions, including user-friendly mobile applications, web-based platforms, and innovative assistive technologies. It offers step-by-step instructions, best practices, and case studies to help organizations, caregivers, and young people themselves navigate the digital landscape with confidence and ease. “We are thrilled to unveil the Digital Interventions Toolkit, which is a testament to our commitment to empowering older adults and bridging the digital divide,” said Onward Gibson Chironda , the Executive Director of My Age Zimbabwe. “This resource will serve as a valuable guide for communities, healthcare providers, and policymakers as they work towards creating a more youth -friendly, technology-enabled ecosystem.” The launch of the Digital Interventions Toolkit marks a significant milestone in My Age Zimbabwe’s ongoing efforts to promote digital inclusion and, ultimately, improve the overall well-being and quality of life for young people in the country.

Co-created and co-convened by Young People, Ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC), and My Age Zimbabwe with support from UNESCO Zimbabwe, SRHR Africa Trust, Population Services Zimbabwe, REPSSI, and Plan International among others hosted the Adolescents Health and Wellbeing Symposium 2024 in Harare, which was a carry on from the first convening in November 2023 which was the first of its kind. During the Symposium the Ministry of Health made significant commitments to prioritize adolescent health, including, increasing investment and resources in the wellbeing of young people and supporting movements and partnerships that aim to improve the health and Wellbeing of young people Developing a comprehensive adolescent health policy to guide the country’s response to adolescent health issues. “We are committed to ensuring that the health and wellbeing of adolescents in Zimbabwe are prioritized,” said Lucia Gondongwe from the Ministry of Health and Child Care. “We recognize the critical role that adolescents play in shaping the future of our country, and we are dedicated to providing them with the support and resources they need to thrive.”

TheAdolescents Health and Wellbeing Symposium, was a landmark event that shed light on the pressing concerns affecting the youth and explored innovative solutions to promote their overall well-being. The Symposium convened decision-makers from diverse fields, including government, private sector, development partners, and donor agencies, alongside youth-led organizations, Civic Society Organisations, youth-led and Key and Vulnerable Populations organizations, and advocates representing the intersectional identities of young people, and underrepresented populations to identify solutions, bolster accountability, and drive changee symposium was an opportunity to connect people, ideas, and resources to drive solutions for the health, Rights, and Well-being of Adolescents and Young People in Zimbabwe.

The ZAHWS was a platform that identified opportunities to bolster advocacy through effective collaboration, focusing on what works, bringing together unexpected partnerships, or connecting interdependent issues to bolster the strongest commitments for adolescents and Young People. It is a space for connection and peer-to-peer learning, reaching advocates with diverse experiences and identities, and supporting their ability to influence at different levels of decision- and policy-making.

The Symposium focused on critical areas such as sexual and reproductive health, mental health support, substance abuse prevention, and the integration of comprehensive wellness programs within educational institutions. By fostering cross-sectoral dialogues and fostering a spirit of innovation, the event empowered Zimbabwe’s youth and equip them with the tools and resources necessary to thrive in their formative years.

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https://myagezimbabwe.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/TENDER-NOTICE.pdf

My Age Zimbabwe successfully organized the Masvingo Youth Arts (MAYA )Festival 2nd Edition 2024 in Masvingo, which was completed with great success, as part of the rethinking arts in pandemics project.

The 2nd edition of the MAYA Festival in 2024 was an undeniable success, captivating audiences with its electrifying blend of poetry slams, mesmerizing performances, and unparalleled networking opportunities.

Some of the highlights of the MAYA Festival were the headlining performances by Ras Caleb, Mr Candy, WekwaMaramba, and Alchemy the big dawg; these captivated the audience and created an electrifying atmosphere.

The festival featured a diverse lineup of national  and local artists, showcasing a wide range of musical genres that kept the audience entertained throughout the event, making it a truly immersive experience for all,the festival gave the locals a place to gather and commemorate their heritage. 

The festival, which has become a beacon of artistic expression and youth empowerment in Masvingo , once again proved its ability to showcase the boundless talent and creativity of the region.

From thought-provoking poetry to captivating musical renditions, each performance left an indelible mark on the attendees, inspiring and empowering young people to embrace their artistic passions.

Beyond the stage, the festival also provided invaluable networking opportunities, allowing artists, industry professionals, and enthusiasts to connect, collaborate, and explore new avenues for growth. 

This dynamic exchange of ideas and experiences has solidified MAYA’s reputation as a hub for the advancement of the Rethinking  arts in pandemics project and the empowerment of the youth.

Special thanks to the CreativeACTIONs2 project that is under the Culture Fund supported by the EU Delegation to Zimbabwe.

My Age Zimbabwe and the Development Agenda for Girls and Women in Africa Network (DAWA) have joined forces to implement a project called “Connecting Adolescent Girls and Women for HIV Prevention.” With support from ViiV Healthcare, they have kicked off the project by jointly training 15 adolescent girls and women on HIV prevention in Mwenezi and Masvingo.

Through the ViiV project, both organizations aim to reduce new HIV infections among AGYW in Masvingo Urban and Mwenezi, as well as promote health-seeking behavior among these girls and young women. 

This will be achieved through innovative methods of information sharing, generating demand, and mobilizing the community to improve access, utilization, and retention of HIV combination prevention methods. 

Ultimately, the project seeks to contribute to decreased HIV infections  and increased HIV/AIDS knowledge among adolescent girls and young women. It builds on My Age Zimbabwe’s experience implementing youth-focused sexual and reproductive health programs in Masvingo Province. Meanwhile, DAWA brings expertise in advocacy and creating spaces for girls and young women on issues like HIV and SRHR.

This project will complement existing efforts to revitalize HIV prevention for adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) at the national level. Its aim is to showcase the feasibility of inclusive and comprehensive projects that are led by AGYW and focused on accelerating HIV prevention efforts. This project will harmonize with various ongoing initiatives, such as the Community-led Monitoring Program by UNAIDS, the DREAMS project, and the AGYW Prevention Self-Assessment tool by the South-to-South Learning Network, in support of the localized Global HIV Prevention roadmap. 

Its ultimate goal is to expand the impact of its innovations, particularly the mobile application, to a wider group of AGYW. Additionally, the project will work closely with UNAIDS and the Ministry of Health in Zimbabwe to enhance access to accurate HIV prevention information and services for AGYW.

With a primary objective of scaling up into districts with high HIV infections among AGYW in Zimbabwe, the project will then proceed to engage with community-based, youth-led, and women-led organizations to foster collaborations and pool resources.

My Age Zimbabwe is seeking for a consultant to conduct a baseline survey for its new project titled : Connecting Adolescents Girls and Young Women (AGYW) for HIV prevention.

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