Yankhulani

Yankhulani! , meaning `Speak Out`, is a partnership project between Waverley Care, the international development agency Interact Worldwide and YONECO, the national youth development agency in Malawi. Funding is from the Scottish Government.

Yankhulani! aims to promote the right of Malawian youth to access good quality sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services as well as HIV and AIDS services in 5 areas of Malawi.  This project addresses current poor SRH outcomes for youth in Malawi as identified by the findings of a comprehensive participatory study conducted by YONECO called “Protecting the Next Generation in Malawi.”

The study identified the main SRH challenges including:
• girls’ higher risk of HIV infection and exposure to sexual coercion,
• the barriers faced by young people, including domestic servants, young offenders in and out of prison and commercial sex workers in terms of access to health services,
• the formal health care system’s difficulties in delivering on young people’s needs, especially the most vulnerable. This is in part because of controversy surrounding youth sexuality and rights and the fact that the formal health sector lacks resources and best practice models for young vulnerable youth, meaning that provision has often been left to charities.

Using a rights-based approach, the project develops the capacity of youth networks and support groups to advocate for their rights in terms of SRH and HIV/AIDS services.