Women bear almost all responsibility for meeting basic needs of the family, yet are systematically denied the resources, information and freedom of action they need to fulfil this responsibility. Research has shown that, vast majority of the world’s poor are women. Two thirds of the world’s illiterate are female .Of the millions of school age, children not in school, the majority are girls. In sev
eral southern African countries, more than three-quarters of all young people living with HIV are women. Studies show that when women are supported and empowered, all of society benefits. Their families are healthier, more children go to school, agricultural productivity improves and income increase. In short, communities become more resilient. YAWEG firmly believes that empowering women to be key agents of development is an essential element to achieving the end of hunger and poverty. Wherever YAWEG is going to work, our programmes will aim to support women and build their capacity. Women will be encouraged to engage in income generating activities to increase their incomes and invest in their families and communities through the provision of easy access to credit, adequate training and instilling in them the importance of saving. YAWEG will tackle the issue of HIV/AIDS AND Gender inequality through workshops, in which they will not only learn the fact of HIV/AIDS, but also confront and transform the gender-based behaviours that fuel the pandemic. ADVOCACY FOR BEHAVIOUR CHANGE(HIV/AIDS)
YAWEG will consider communication as an essential component for HIV programmes. This will include behaviour change communication using mass media, as well as behaviour change using community outreach, YAWEG will determine the messages, format and communication channels that are appropriate and most likely to be effective for reaching individuals within a proposed target population. Building from its communication for behaviour change, YAWEG will use a myriad of tools and strategies to support community-based organisations and community based volunteers to initiate community led mobilisation programmes. These interventions will include door- to-door campaigns, community dialogues, participation of community-based volunteers and engagement of existing community structures and opinion leaders to promote community empowerment and enhance a sense of ownership and accountability.
