My Age Zimbabwe, with support from Amplify Change, is spearheading a vital initiative: the Youth Education on Sexuality (YES) project.
This project recognizes the right of Zimbabwean youth aged 10-24 to access accurate and age-appropriate Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE).
The initiative aims to improve access to essential sexual and reproductive health services, enabling informed choices and promoting healthier communities.
The YES project emphasizes collaboration, uniting youth-led civil society organizations with policymakers to create tailored CSE information packages.
Prior to implementation, a thorough desk review assessed the existing CSE landscape, providing valuable insights into knowledge, stakeholder collaboration, and policy efficacy.
This informed the project’s objectives, reviewing existing programs, assessing their effectiveness, and evaluating school health policy alignment with the needs of young people.
Interactive workshops using platforms like Mentimeter facilitated crucial discussions around key themes, including abstinence, prevention of undesired health outcomes, understanding the human body, and navigating social contexts.
Looking forward, integration of CSE into broader developmental frameworks is paramount. Recommendations focus on improved information access, stronger stakeholder collaborations, and supportive national policies.
The YES project underscores the necessity of inclusive and participatory CSE, emphasizing adequate training and capacity-building. My Age Zimbabwe’s efforts establish a robust evidence base, guiding the design and implementation of CSE programs tailored to the specific needs of young people in Zimbabwe.
