Ombetja Yehinga Organisation

Location: Africa

Artistic projects for young people in the fight against HIV and AIDS

AIDS deals harsh blows to societies. Take a look at Namibia: the virus is causing collective mourning and is punching a growing hole in the work force. The hope lies with the new generation of young people. They are the ones who must stem the tide of the disease through safe sex and rebuild their country. Ombetja Yehinga Organisation helps them to achieve this goal.

This Hivos partner does this primarily through organising expressive arts projects for youth, from dance performances to photo exhibitions – but also through its magazine OYO: Young, Latest and Cool. ‘Together these activities prove to be a good way to broach the subject of HIV and AIDS with young people,’ says Philippe Talavera, Director of Ombetja. ‘But the artistic projects and the magazine are also used to discuss other social issues, such as domestic violence, rape, and alcohol and drug abuse.’

‘We let them think about important issues such as discrimination, child rights and gender equality,’ Talavera continues. ‘And we teach them to express these thoughts in a creative way. With the knowledge and self reflection that the youths of all ages gain in this way, they can make sensible, well-considered choices that will decrease the HIV infections and improve life expectancy and the quality of life in Namibia.’

Hivos supports Ombetja because of its innovative use of art and media for public outreach, its training of teachers, its distribution of AIDS educational materials in schools and its distribution of condoms – but also because of its research into the relation between cultural patterns, sexuality and sexual behaviour in communities. This research provides tools to these communities for dealing with the social impact of the AIDS epidemic.

For Ombetja, HIV/AIDS is a problem that transcends the field of health care – like it is for Hivos, says Kwasi Boahene. ‘The consequences of HIV limit social and economic development,’ contends the Hivos employee. ‘Moreover, the fast spread is caused by structural poverty, social inequality and violations of universal human rights. In many countries there is a strong taboo around HIV, and socially weak groups have poor access to information. Especially women and girls, young people, sexual minorities and people in the countryside have an increased risk of infection. Hivos has been working on behalf of these vulnerable groups for many years now.’

Type of organisation

Intermediary development organisation

Sector

Hiv/aids

Country

Namibia

Founded

2000

Hivos partner since

2003

Website

More information

» About this partner (in English)

» About this partner's projects (in English)

CONTACT

Ombetja Yehinga Organisation

» Address:

Postal address 97217
Maerua Park
Windhoek
Namibia

» +264 (0)61 254 915

» http://ombetja.org/

PROJECTS

Description:
Ombetja Yehinga Program
DAC-sectors:	Reproductive and sexual health (BSS)
Location:	Namibia, national
Beneficiary:	children, youth
activity	Staff training
Direct outreach	21 - Intermediary level
Indirect outreach	50 - Intermediary level
activity	To produce one major art project with young people each year.
Direct outreach	5 - Beneficiaries: poor and/or marginalised women and men
Indirect outreach	9000 - Beneficiaries: poor and/or marginalised women and men
activity	Conduct the national festival tour
Direct outreach	80 - Intermediary level
Indirect outreach	2000 - Beneficiaries: poor and/or marginalised women and men
activity	To train out of school youth groups in order to produce a 40 minuite show on HIV and/or social issues in 2010
Direct outreach	60 - Beneficiaries: poor and/or marginalised women and men
Indirect outreach	15000 - Beneficiaries: poor and/or marginalised women and men
Contract total:	300.000
Contractperiod:	01-01-2010 until 31-12-2012
In this contract OYO intends to build upon and advance its work with the Namibian youth on HIV prevention, peer education, and behaviour change, using arts, in the Kunene, Erongo and Khomas regions. As part of its strategy OYO intends to expand to a further region between 2010 and 2012. In this contract OYO will produce and distribute the OYO, Young, latest and cool magazine which is developed by youth, for youth, and provides young people in Namibia with accurate information on HIV, sexual and reproductive health, gender and human rights, and social issues and gives young people an idea of what their peers think and feel about specific issues. OYO will continue to work with AIDS Awareness Clubs in schools will develop and produce five special event celebrations per yeare - i.e. Valentine's Day, Women's Day, African Child's Day, Condom Day and World AIDS Day in each region. Other projects such as the Behaviour Change, Out of School youth, Regional Tours and National Festival will be carried out.

Description:
AIDS Prevention for Youths
DAC-sectors:	Reproductive and sexual health (BSS)
Location:	Kunene and Erongo Regions, Nambia
Beneficiary:	indigenous peoples, ethnic/religious/cultural minorities
activity	OYO newsletter/magazine
Direct outreach	1500 - Beneficiaries: poor and/or marginalised women and men
Indirect outreach	150000 - Beneficiaries: poor and/or marginalised women and men
activity	Tour of AIDS awareness clubs
Direct outreach	300 - Beneficiaries: poor and/or marginalised women and men
Indirect outreach	2700 - Beneficiaries: poor and/or marginalised women and men
activity	National tour
Direct outreach	300 - Beneficiaries: poor and/or marginalised women and men
Indirect outreach	9300 - Beneficiaries: poor and/or marginalised women and men
activity	Special events - 14 February (Valentine's day); African Child day (June 16); Condom day (22 Aug and World AIDS Day (1 Dec)
Direct outreach	600 - Beneficiaries: poor and/or marginalised women and men
Indirect outreach	9000 - Beneficiaries: poor and/or marginalised women and men
Contract total:	300.000
Contractperiod:	11-01-2007 until 31-12-2009
The Ombetja Yehinga Organisation originates from a request by teachers in Kunene to support their attempt to integrate HIV/AIDS education into the curriculum of their schools. In January 2000, the Kunene Regional Council officially launched a programme called Ombetja Yehinga, as part of the Regional HIV/AIDS Co-ordinating Committee. It now seeks expansion into two other regions. It is managed by a Board comprising of the head of programme, two deputy heads, the accountant and representatives from the Ministry of Local Government and Housing, Ministry of Basic Education, Sport and Culture, the Ministry of Health and Social Services and a member from the University of Namibia. The main aim of OY is to decrease the impact of the HIV/AIDS pandemic among young people in the Kunene, Erongo and Khomas regions of Namibia. It will achieve this through training of teachers and learners, to help them understand the threats of the disease, how to protect themselves and eventually, how to cope with it. Innovative approaches are central in this program. Attractive material that appeal to the youth such as magazines, design t-shirts, fashion shows, theatre will be developed and disseminated. Openness on sexual issues and interests of learners is an important feature of the programme. Youths will be prevented from getting infected through condom distribution (male and female) and demonstrations on the correct use of condoms. These activities will be directed towards teens and young adults in schools and tertiary institutions. The work of OY responds to the need to provide information on HIV/AIDS to teens and young adults so as to reduce and prevent HIV in this age group. The methodologies are inclusive of the youth themselves while interaction with officials from the relevant government departments ensures support for the activities. Organisations such as OY are given prominent support by Hivos as they respond to the challenges of HIV/AIDS prevention.