11 Aug 2014

About 500 youths aged between 10 and 24 years converged in Kasane on August 9 for the Chobe fun youth forum.



The objective of the youth forum according to United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) programme associate, Mr Nonofo Sam was to empower youth aged between 10 and 24 years with life and decision making skills.

The forum also aimed at bringing a positive difference in the lives of the youth as well as making them realise their true potential as decision makers, he said. 



For her part, peer education programme coordinator in the Chobe regional education office, Ms Itebogeng Tlalanyana said research has shown that youth are not well informed in sexual reproductive issues and Chobe youths are leading in this regard. 



She said some of the challenges facing youths in Chobe are teenage pregnancy, alcohol abuse and lack of confidence in themselves.

“What we have realised is that we do not have high cases of teenage pregnancy in schools, but we see it during transitional period when these students are awaiting placement in secondary schools,” she said.  



She noted that though they continue to impart skills through Guidance and Counseling and running some activities in schools, that was not enough. 



As such, she explained that they have partnered with UNICEF through their ‘I AM’ and ‘WISE UP’ outreach tools to give the youths an opportunity to introspect so that they are in a better position to receive and utilise this information for better decision making.



The forum is a collaboration between UNICEF, National Aids Coordinating Agency (NACA) and District Multi-Sectoral AIDS Committee (DMSAC). 



The outcomes of the forum are to have the youth of Chobe adopt safer sexual practices, to be well conversant and understand the outcomes of risky behavior and be able to differentiate between myths and facts about HIV and AIDS. Ends