Child Helplines
ICT for HIV/AIDS Prevention and Promoting Human Rights among Young People (Malawi)
Young people need information is a subtle way. The information has to be interesting, catch their attention and also user friendly in the process. The information that has been presented has been threatening and making young people lose hope. There is need therefore to engage the young people in more interactive sessions. The sessions should engage young people, help them develop skills, share information and discuss pertinent matters affecting youth and children on human rights and HIV/AIDS.
Recently, there has been an increase in the use of ICT in Malawi in the form of radio, computers, internet, cello phones, telephones, TV and video etc. Young people tend to be moving with times and the love for ICT on young people is very high. This has been demonstrated in the patronage of video centres, internet cafes and also owning of cello phones by the youth. This interest in owning and using of ICT facilities provides a big opportunity of reaching out to young people on topical issues in relation to HIV/AIDS, human rights, sexual violence, gender, child abuse, drug and alcohol abuse, mental health and protection of child rights. .
ICT can therefore be used to enhance the communication to young people on various aspects of life including the prevention of HIV/AIDS messages, interactions with the communities, engaging the community youth leaders and providing a platform for discussion with young people in terms of HIV/AIDS epidemic. ICT would be used as one of the channels for reaching out to young people both in the rural and urban settings for HIV/AIDS and human rights education.
YONECO therefore starts a project called ICT for HIV/AIDS Prevention and Promoting Human Rights
The project goal is to:
Increase the effectiveness and impact of Yoneco on HIV/AIDS and human rights for the youth, women and children.
The objectives are:
- To increase access of information on HIV/AIDS and human rights to young people using ICT as a tool
- To enhance YONECO capacity in developing and using ICT for prevention and mitigation of HIV/AIDS and human rights education and protection.
- To provide user and youth friendly channels for HIV/AIDS and human rights education for young people including reporting of human rights violations.
The two main activities that form this project are:
- Implementation of a toll free child helpline
- Implementation of the sms bulktool
For more detailed information see full project description and for a short overview of the child helpline see summary child helpline.
Implementing Partner: Yoneco
YouthNet and Counselling (YONECO) is a non-political, non-profit making and non-governmental organization that was formed in September 1997. It was established to address the social injustice and reproductive health issues affecting the youth, women and children.
The KPN Volunteer (s)
Currently two volunteers are supporting Yoneco with the implementation of the child helpline project.
The volunteers focus on capacity building and the use of ICTs.
Project documents
All documentation in relation to Yoneco and the STAR programme are collected here.
You will find the original project proposal and logframe, reports of the KPN volunteers visits by the KPN volunteers as well as Yoneco self.
Addtional activities that came out of the cooperation are also included: basic ICT skills training and the upcoming exchange visit.