The Youth Health Organization (YOHO) is a strong, youth– run organization which aims to promote positive behaviours among youth aged 10-29. YOHO was established in 1999 as a joint venture between the Botswana Government USA Partnership (BOTUSA) and the Ministry of Health (MoH) in order to invigorate youth HIV/AIDS initiatives.

YOHO is committed to healthy lifestyles for youth by striving to be a leading youth health institution that promotes healthy lifestyles through Entertainment, Education for Empowerment interactive interventions based on Youth-Adult Partnerships, rights, respect and responsibility. Botswana has a population of approximately 1.7 million people, of which 644,820 are young people between the ages of 12 and 29. According to the Department of Youth and Culture, it was estimated that 17.1% of the general population was living with HIV in 2004 and statistics confirm that there is a sharp increase in HIV prevalence after the average age of sexual debut, with prevalence rates as high as 33% among youth aged 25 to 29.

Botswana continues to record new HIV infections despite a high level of awareness and available information supports the proposition that the high level of awareness and knowledge of HIV and AIDS has not translated into meaningful desired behaviour change across all sectors, including youth. The need, therefore, for increased reinforcement and improved referral systems to motivate increased utilization of health services still exists.