Jyesha in Ethiopia

Vision

Hiwot envisions a society where by all people in Ethiopia, youth in particular, exercise their full rights to be free from HIV/AIDS and sexual reproductive health (SRH) hazards.

Mission

Established in 1995, Hiwot is a non-profit, non-political, non-discriminatory and non-governmental endogenous organization that will:

• Advocate for the full rights of young people to be free from HIV/AIDS and sexual and reproductive hazards

• Maximize its efforts in the provision of target oriented and gender sensitive information, education, counseling and referral services on SRH and HIV/AIDS for underserved young people

• Strive to build its institutional capacity for the realization of a strong and responsive organization

Goals

• Promote the rights of young people to be free from HIV/AIDS and SRH hazard

• Increase the provision of gender sensitive information, education, counseling and referral services on SRH and HIV/AIDS for underserved youth

Major Interventions

I. IEC/BCC

1.1. Print Materials production

Hiwot Ethiopia produces IEC materials such as news papers, leaflets and posters on a regular basis, and distributes them through the youth clubs and schools in the community. The material helps to transfer important messages on HIV/AIDS, SRH, children’s rights, and gender issues.

1.2. Music and drama

The Drama and music group in Hiwot Ethiopia and partnering clubs prepare issue related dramas and music programs as well as talk show street (outreach) programs. These issues related productions are used for behavioral change communication. For instance, the forum dramas are used to initiate discussion and dialogue among young people (peers), parents and children, girls and boys etc.

1.3. Discussions, dialogues and conversations

There are also intensive discussions/dialogues among youth groups and parents which are used as major behavioral change communication strategies. We establish boys & girls group and parents group dissuasions at Hiwot, and peer discussion and dialogue in the clubs. The groups discuss issues of gender such as masculinity and gender equity, sexuality, rights, acceptance, tolerance etc. Parents cover and dialogue on issues related to children.

1.4. Establishing and strengthening SRH, HIV &AIDS Clubs

The involvement of Anti-AIDS and Sexual Reproductive Health club leaders and members in disseminating information and education among in and out of school youth and the community is on the rise. Apart from dissemination of HIV/AIDS and Sexual Reproductive Health information and intensive education, clubs and its members are also involved in humanitarian assistance (care and support, environment protection activities and the like) and income generating activities.

II. Counseling and referral services

2.1 Hotline counseling service:

Hiwot’s youth line (Hotline-931) service is providing youth with counseling on sexual reproductive health, HIV&AIDS, and rights issues. Many young people are not comfortable asking questions about these topics. The hotline provides them with a safe, anonymous way to access information and get counseling.

2.2 Center based counseling service:

The center based counseling center not a very high level counseling service but it serves the youth on counseling on preliminary and referral bases.

2.3 Referral service:

We work with the Family Planning and Guidance Association, and Marie-Stops for referrals. Youth counselors refer needy youth for VCT, and RH, and STI problems. The referral service is in the process of establishing legal guidelines related referrals in case of sexual offence, violence and the like.

III. Advocacy

Hiwot’s advocacy role to date has been principally focused on family planning, reproductive health services, HIV & AIDS prevention, and gender issues. Now there is an enabling environment to refocus its advocacy role on new areas in addition to the traditional ones. Hiwot is now expanding to address issues of human rights in general, and sexual and reproductive health rights including gender in particular.

These issues are sensitive and largely unaddressed, while they are the basis for human well being in general. Therefore, it is necessary to advocate for the human rights protection and to get proper attention from policy makers, concerned authorities and the public at large. To mount an effective advocacy program, Hiwot consistently strives to maintain its public image and credibility. To this effect, Hiwot has been employing the following strategies:

-Holding advocacy workshops and seminars for parents on HIV&AIDS, sexual and reproductive health rights, and gender equity.

-Networking and partnering with appropriate human rights organizations and community groups.

-Conducting advocacy workshops and seminars on the rights of children and young people among parliamentarians, policy makers, and community and religious leaders.

-Lobbying for free electronic and print media that advocates for sexual and reproductive health rights and gender equity in the community particularly among the youth.

-Using IEC and BCC interventions as an advocacy strategy for sexual and reproductive health rights and gender equity of young people.

-Sponsoring youth programs to conduct advocacy work on rights of children and young people in youth associations, clubs, schools and kebles (local government).

-Increasing the capacity of Hiwot’s staff, volunteers, and youth associations to advocate for sexual and reproductive health rights and gender equity for young people.

IV. Capacity Building and Networking

4.1 Capacity building for Hiwot

Hiwot Ethiopia believes in the power of strategic capacity building activities. In this regards Hiwot follows a step by step process to strengthen itself materially, financially, and with human resources to undertake its tasks.

The first major task accomplished was conducting the organization capacity assessment (OCA). This has been done in collaboration with Save The Children Sweden in 2005. The assessment came up with critical gaps that Hiwot is working to fill.

4.2 Capacity Building for youth Clubs

Hiwot works closely with 18 youth Clubs and associations in Addis Ababa and Amhara region. It establishes and strengthens youth clubs and associations. It supports the youth associations financially, materially and technically. The organization funds more than a total of 15,000 US dollars per year for the clubs/associations office, program, and equipment costs. It also creates income generating opportunities for the clubs/associations to sustain the program.

In addition, Hiwot organizes and conducts various types of trainings including leadership and management, training of trainers (TOTs) and peer educators, and training to enable the members and leaders of the associations to perform better. The youth also participate in workshops that sensitize them to contemporary issues. In this regard, we are working with these youth clubs/associations to reach the community at a grassroots level, and we have experiences great success in attaining our objectives.