By Staff Reporter
My Age Zimbabwe, has entered into a collaborative partnership with the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF). This partnership marks a significant milestone in our collective efforts to promote sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) for young people in Zimbabwe.
My Age Zimbabwe, a leading youth-led organization dedicated to advocating for comprehensive SRHR education and services, has been at the forefront of empowering young people and championing their rights. The organisation was founded by Onward Gibson Chironda in 2011 as a young person who had a passion in using theatre for development in addressing issues facing young people has grown to be Zimbabwe’s leading youth-led organisation.
My Age Zimbabwe’s commitment to ensuring young people have access to accurate information, quality healthcare, and supportive environments aligns closely with the vision and mission of IPPF.
Onward Gibson, the My Age Zimbabwe Executive Director said, “Through this partnership, My Age will strengthen itas advocacy efforts, improve service provision, and enhance the capacity of young people to make informed decisions about their sexual and reproductive health but also largely support the youth movement in Zimbabwe to be strengthened and coordinated.
Our collaboration with IPPF will also enable us to leverage their global expertise, resources, and networks to amplify our impact and work towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly Goal 3 on good health and well-being. Co-funding from IPPF will enhance our organizational capacity in areas such as project management, youth leadership, and program evaluation. This will enable us to deliver more effective and sustainable SRHR initiatives.”
My Age has been working with the Ministry of Health and Child Care, Ministry of Youth, Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education (MOPSE), and Zimbabwe National Family Planning Council (ZNFPC) in terms of advocacy for the integration of comprehensive SRHR education in national curricula, the removal of legal barriers that hinder young people’s access to services, and the inclusion of youth-friendly healthcare provisions in national health policies.
Isheanesu Chikumbu, the Monitoring Evaluation and Learning Officer at My Age said, “We will actively exchange knowledge, experiences, and best practices with IPPF and its network of partners worldwide. This collaboration will facilitate the identification and adoption of innovative approaches that address the specific SRHR needs of young people in Zimbabwe.”
The collaboration will not only strengthen our organization but also contribute significantly to the advancement of SRHR for young people in Zimbabwe. My Age Zimbabwe’s vision is to create an enabling environment that respects and upholds the rights of young people, ensures their access to comprehensive SRHR services, and empowers them to make informed choices about their bodies so that they can have healthy and fulfilling lives, free from HIV, STIs, unwanted pregnancies and any other negative health outcomes.
