1. Presented at AIDS 2010 in Vienna - Austria
Youth Leads: Be a Man STOP Violence Against
Women
Mandla Neku
Khayelitsha, Western Cape
Activities
Workshop Session 1: -1st – 2th November 2012 Introductions, to “Youth Leads”
and how does HIV and gender based violence affects me and my community.
Workshop Session 2: -24th November 2012, leadership skills and lay out of a
tournament.
Workshop Session 3: -26th January 2013: -Youth Leads check in on readiness
for Tournament.
Site Visits + support: 26th November 2012 – 8th March 2013
Culminating Event (dates; duration: one full day): 9th Mach 2013
Results/ Outcomes
• I trained 10 soccer captain but only 8 finished the program
• The original plan was to recruit high school young males as opposed to
recruiting soccer players
• Ran TWO extra refresher sessions in 2013 to get back on track and
motivate Youth Leads
• Youth Leads realized how important to have such platform talk about HIV
and gender based violence among each other –vital conversations
Introduction – Background/ Rationale
It is important to reach younger adolescents with gender-focused programming,
as gender norms are incorporated and reinforced early in life. Interventions
targeted at adolescents could also bridge generation gaps by involving key role
models, such as fathers and teachers. The Youth Leads prevention plan, offers
an innovative approach towards tackling issues of HIV and AIDS and gender
inequity in South Africa by attracting and retaining young men using the appeal
of football/soccer and combining education on HIV prevention and GBV.
Conclusions
The relationship and respect that was built among Youth Leads in engaging
openly and positive on HIV and AIDS issues. Young male realized the
importance of round table discussions on gender based violence issues and
anxiety of Youth Leads to spread the word and advocate for change.
The slogan/ motto of the program ended up coming from some of discussions
“Be A Man Stop Violence Against Women”
Acknowledgments
I would like to Football For Hope Centre –Khayelitsha for allowing me to run
Youth Leads project in their premises and community volunteer Lucky Mfundisi
whom helped with all ground work. And lastly Harare League for allowing
soccer teams to participant in Youth Leads prevention programme.
Lessons Learned
Things don’t always goes according to how you have planned regardless of
how good your implementation strategy looks, so I ha learn to be more patience
with people, always confirm meetings and double check how correct and
accurate is the information giving out.
The level of information Youth Leader’s have regards to HIV was very minimal
and that forced to relook at curriculum and give out more handouts of HIV
information.
Goal and Objectives
Goal: To provide young men with the knowledge and skills to become leaders
and positive role models in their communities by using soccer as a vehicle in
addressing gender based violence (GBV) and HIV prevention among other
males.
Objective 1: To create a curriculum that aims to expand the knowledge of
young men in leadership, gender based violence and HIV prevention
Objective 2: To train 10 between the ages of 15 – 18 years old soccer
captains to be positive role models among their team mates and other peers in
Khayelisha
Objective 3: To provide mentorship and support to young men during their
project implementation phase and ensuring they carry out their deliverables
Objectives 4: To organise a culminating soccer HCT Tournament with an
awareness of gender based violence where soccer teams will present their
projects
Challenges and Solutions
• Soccer teams wanted to play soccer as opposed to focusing on HIV and
AIDS education and gender based violence awareness.
• Keeping soccer captains (Youth Leaders) motivated throughout and coping
with Saturday’s soccer games fixtures plans. (This made me to worry and be
aware of these fixtures soccer games and even attend some).
Sustainability and Future Plans
For the Youth Leads programme I would definitely keep same age group and
only male program because I saw the anxiety from these young males in terms
of being hungry for the information.
If funds could have allow, I can build my prevention plan into under 19 soccer
entire league. Where all captains attends Youth Leads train the trainer
workshop and captains convey the information into their respected teams
The young male also acknowledged be part of only male program that prepares
them to be future leaders in and off the field. The Youth Leads felt this a
program of this kind, only man program –educational. Through findings of
Youth Leads there is a potential for Grassroot Soccer to start have only male
focus program.
Target Population
Ten young men soccer captains
from local under 19 team will
have the opportunity to
voluntarily join FOUR months
long program. The program will
involve 3 workshop sessions on
weekends during which soccer
captains—referred to as “Youth
Leads”—will create projects on
awareness of gender based
violence in their soccer teams.
The program will culminate in a
day-long event for soccer
teams, integrating a soccer
tournament, peer-led
presentations about gender
equity and HIV, and HIV testing