Unesco 'Our Rights, Our Lives, Our Future'

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Official page of UNESCO's 'Our Rights, Our Lives, Our Future (O3)' Programme.

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For the first time, national and regional decision-makers from health and education in Eastern and Southern Africa are joining together to review young people’s sexual health needs and concerns and mobilise political commitment, investment and intensified action across 21 countries in the ESA region. YOUNG PEOPLE TODAY, TIME TO ACT NOW has the potential to change the course of the HIV epidemic in the Eastern and Southern Africa and make quality sexuality education and youth-friendly health services a reality to young people. Some of the challenges young people face:
Currently, every hour, an estimated 50 young people, mostly women, become infected with HIV. Eastern and Southern Africa is world’s most affected region with 430,000 new infections each year among young people aged 15-24 with an estimated 2.6 million other young people living with HIV. Other challenges:
Less than 40% of young people know basic information about HIV; key health services are often withheld from adolescents and young people due to their age, their marital and/or legal status; teenage pregnancy rates remain high with 20% of young women having given birth by the age of 17 in a number of countries. Early pregnancy contributes to high drop-out rates from education and poses a serious threat to the health of adolescent girls including high rates of maternal death. In addition, sexual or gender-based violence affects 35% of young women in the region.

“It is time for urgent action by our governments, young people and civil society to re-affirm the rights of young people to a better future. We have a duty to make good quality HIV and sexuality education and sexual and reproductive health services a reality for all.” Professor Sheila Tlou, Director of UNAIDS Regional Support. Working with the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the East African Community (EAC), the campaign aims to get the region’s Ministers of Health and Education to pledge firm support to a “Commitment” of bold action and leadership in support of their youth populations. This commitment-building process will culminate in a high level meeting on 7 December 2013, bringing together the 42 ministers at the International Conference on AIDS and STIs in Africa (ICASA) in Cape Town, South Africa. To support the campaign or for more information: www.youngpeopletoday.net. The campaign represents a partnership of: UNESCO, UNAIDS, UNICEF, WHO, EAC, SADC, the Ford Foundation, the Swedish Government, the Church of Sweden, IPPF, INERELA+ and NORAD as well as civil society organisations, adolescents and young people across the world.

16/10/2026

Building healthy habits starts in the classroom!

This week, UNESCO in collaboration with the Tanzania Institute of Education (TIE), disseminated 4,000 copies of four Foundational Education for Health and Well-being pupils’ books, paving the way for wider distribution to primary schools across Tanzania.

The books equip learners with age-appropriate knowledge and essential life skills to make informed, healthy choices and support their well-being.

| UNESCO Regional Office for Eastern Africa

15/10/2026

“When I started Standard 1, there were more than 50 girls in my class. By Standard 8, I was the only one left.”

These were the remarks made by 17 year old Duwana Muhammed from Mangochi at the recently concluded National Youth Summit in Malawi.

Growing up in poverty and facing pressure to leave school, Duwana persevered. Today, she dreams of becoming a doctor.

As we continue to mark Day of the Gild Child, Duwana's journey is a powerful reminder of why investments are needed for the health and well-being of adolescents and young people, especially young girls. With the right knowledge, life skills and support, young people can navigate challenges, make informed decisions, stay in school and pursue their aspirations.

Through ’s Our Rights, Our Lives, Our Future (O3) Programme funded by the Governments of Ireland, Norway and Sweden, we are working to ensure more young people have the tools and opportunities to shape healthier, brighter futures.

Because every young person deserves the chance to learn, dream and thrive.

| Royal Norwegian Embassy in Lilongwe, Malawi

14/10/2026

Today in Bulawayo, UNESCO marked the handover of the upgraded campus clinic at the National University of Science and Technology, highlighting the Government of Switzerland’s support through the Our Rights Our Lives Our Future PLUS Programme.

H.E. Christine Schraner Burgener, Ambassador of the Embassy of Switzerland to Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe, officiated the handover, which represents a wider investment in upgrading 13 campus clinics across 11 higher and tertiary education institutions in Zimbabwe. These investments help strengthen access to health services and create safer, healthier learning environments for students.

The visit also brought together higher and tertiary education leaders and partners to advance a national Health-Promoting Campuses Framework, placing student health and wellbeing at the heart of institutional policies, services and environments, with a focus on disability inclusion.

Because every student deserves the opportunity to learn, thrive and reach their full potential.

| Unesco Regional Office for Southern Africa

📸: NUST Media

14/10/2026

Last week in Zambia, UNESCO through the Our Rights, Our Lives, Our Future (O3) Programme, supported the Ministry of Health in convening the second national stakeholder consultation for the development of Zambia's National Adolescent Health Strategy 2027–2031.

The consultation provided an important platform for government ministries, development partners and other stakeholders to review and strengthen the draft strategy, ensuring that the health and well-being needs of adolescents are addressed through a coordinated, multisectoral approach.

| Unesco Regional Office for Southern Africa

11/10/2026

For girls to complete their education, they need more than a place in the classroom. They need supportive teachers, understanding classmates, engaged families and schools equipped to respond to their academic, social and psychosocial needs.

Through UNESCO’s Our Rights, Our Lives, Our Future (O3) Programme with funding from the Governments of Ireland, Norway and Sweden, we are helping strengthen these systems across sub-Saharan Africa—supporting girls’ education, health and well-being.

Today, 17 countries across sub-Saharan Africa have adopted or strengthened school re-entry policies for young mothers, helping ensure pregnancy does not mark the end of a girl’s education.

From policy reform to school-level support, this work is about creating environments where girls can return after pregnancy, complete their education and build their futures.

Investing in girls means investing in healthier, more equal and more empowered societies.

This International Day of the Girl Child, we celebrate every girl who keeps dreaming—and the systems that help her get there.

Read more: https://www.unesco.org/en/articles/returning-learn-returning-dream

09/10/2026

How do we ensure that every young person can access the comprehensive sexuality education they need to live healthy, safe and empowered lives?

In Kigali, Rwanda, 40 educators and practitioners were part of the 4-day Breaking the Silence training to make comprehensive sexuality education (CSE) more inclusive and accessible for young people with disabilities.

Through practical teaching tools, interactive learning and trauma-informed approaches, participants had the opportunity to strengthen their skills to address sensitive topics, recognise diverse learning needs and create safe spaces where every learner can participate.

Organised by UNESCO, UNFPA East and Southern Africa Regional Office and the SA Medical Research Council, the training goes beyond the classroom, as participants also developed country-specific action plans to take these approaches back to their communities, equip fellow educators and reach more young people with disabilities.

| UNESCO Regional Office for Eastern Africa

08/10/2026

A good teacher helps a learner pass an exam. A great teacher helps them navigate life.

As we continue to mark World Teachers’ Day, we celebrate the teachers who are doing both.

Through UNESCO’s Our Rights, Our Lives, Our Future (O3) Programme funded by the Governments of Ireland, Norway and Sweden, teachers are gaining the knowledge and tools to integrate Life Skills and Health Education into everyday lessons like Civic Education, Biology and Chemistry.

These teachers are helping young people navigate relationships, peer pressure, health and well-being —and creating classrooms where learners feel safe enough to ask for help when they need it.

This is what investing in education means: not only preparing young people for exams, but equipping them for life.

Happy World Teachers’ Day to the educators who teach, listen, guide and believe in the potential of every learner.

Read more: https://www.unesco.org/en/articles/meet-teachers-turning-chemistry-biology-and-civic-education-life-skills-health-lessons

07/10/2026

In Zambia this week, UNESCO through the Our Rights, Our Lives, Our Future (O3) Programme, convened teacher training institutions, civil society organisations and other key stakeholders to reflect on the implementation of the College Hub Model and strengthen collaboration for sustainable delivery of Life Skills and Health Education.

The meeting provides a valuable platform for partners to share experiences, good practices and lessons learned, identify practical solutions to common challenges, and assess progress made in strengthening teachers' capacity to equip learners with relevant knowledge, skills and attitudes.

Through fostering coordination and collective learning, the O3 Programme continues to support a stronger, more responsive education system that enables all learners to thrive.

| Unesco Regional Office for Southern Africa

05/10/2026

Some teachers teach lessons. The really special ones leave a little piece of themselves with every learner.

This World Teachers’ Day, we’re celebrating the teachers who do more than prepare young people for exams.

They listen when a learner needs to talk.
They make difficult conversations feel a little easier.
They encourage curiosity, confidence and big dreams.
And sometimes, they simply remind a young person: “I believe in you.”

Through UNESCO's Our Rights, Our Lives, Our Future (O3) Programme funded by the Governments of Ireland, Norway and Sweden, we are investing in teachers so they are equipped to better support their learners.

Happy World Teachers’ Day to all the teachers who teach, care, listen and inspire.

🎥 Watch the video and see how teachers are making a difference in the lives of learners.

| Unesco Regional Office for Southern Africa | UNESCO Regional Office for Eastern Africa | Sida - Styrelsen för Internationellt Utvecklingssamarbete | United Nations in Zambia | United Nations Malawi | United Nations Tanzania Royal Norwegian Embassy in Lilongwe, Malawi Embassy of Sweden in Lusaka | Sweden in OECD and UNESCO | Embassy of Sweden in Pretoria

30/09/2026

Calling all students from TVET Institutions in 🇹🇿

You can now access a free online course on Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE), anytime and anywhere.

Through UNESCO’s Our Rights, Our Lives, Our Future PLUS Programme and in partnership with NACTVET, the course is now integrated into NACTVET’s national Learning Management System, making it accessible to students across TVET institutions in Tanzania.

The course provides practical, age-appropriate and evidence-based information to help you make informed decisions, understand your rights, build healthy relationships and navigate issues that affect your health and well-being.

Ready to learn? Access the course here:
https://cse.nactvet.go.tz/

| UNESCO Regional Office for Eastern Africa

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https://www.unesco.org/en/o3-programme

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