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Last Friday, we went to visit some of the projects around ALELTU area of Oromia Regional State in Ethiopia where by young people in small towns get together to form HIVAIDS, clubs in their vicinity to bring about change in their community in areas of Sexual Reproductive and Health issues.
One of the club we have managed to see is called ‘Bilichta’ this club is a community based club whether by interested young people came together to with the help of Talent Youth Association, they design, manage and implement diverse projects through drama, musics, coffee ceremony, counseling and condom distribution and so on.
The other club we have seen is called FIKIR GELILA Sexual and Reproductive Club, this club is also a community based club and it’s composed with both young men and female volunteers in the area. They also use same methodology with the former club in imparting their message to the community.
These clubs are located in very small rural towns, where by large number of people engaged in traditional agriculture. The town has limited resources and less infrastructural development. Hence communication is very difficult. These young people also do not have internet access to interact with their peers and partners across the country.
In a place were by there is so much poverty and people travel long ways to pursue secondary education at times female students cannot continue further as a result of the distance and many of the households base their livelihoods with traditional rain fed agriculture, it takes courage, commitment and dedication to teach the community on issues of SRH and HIV/AIDS. In way these young volunteers are developing leadership abilities and they also have strong bond with the local government bodies like the health centers, youth and sport bureau. They mainly teach the people in local gathering and meetings like ‘Idir’ whereby they can access the community. The local young people are also attracted in the work of these young people. This is mainly, because there are no major recreational centers or libraries for the young people in the area. These clubs organize music and drama shows as way of entertainment and also learning ground for the young. The work they are doing is very much visible and impacting lot of people in positive way. as a long term plan these clubs are aiming in organized as an association level that works locally with the people.
However, those young people also have challenges. Some of their challenges are poor communications, lack of materials like clothing, computers and other general developmental issues.
Talent youth association along the line with others is helping these clubs in capacity building, training and project follow ups.
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by AFY_Samantha
by AFY_Samantha
by AFY_Samantha
by AFY_Samantha
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