Message From The Director

Born in 1999, under a tree in Gaborone, by a group of out of school youth, the Youth Health Organization (YOHO) has now become one of the leading youth serving organizations in Botswana. At YOHO we strive to be a youth friendly organization and strive to promote healthy lifestyle for youth. I have had the opportunity to lead this dynamic organization since 2002 and would like to express my gratitude to those who have supported us since the beginning. In particular, I would like to thank Mr. Kent Klindera, our first technical advisor, and Ms. Joy Phumaphi, our patron during our budding years.

Over its 11 years of existence YOHO has reached more than 300, 000 thousand youth with life saving messages on HIV prevention and other matters related to Sexual and Reproductive Health. An additional 10, 000 were reached through life skills education, which serves to empower youth on matters of advocacy and accountable decision-making. Both mass and interpersonal activities have been implemented, through the life skils program, to build self-esteem and increase the knowledge of Sexual and Reproductive Health issues common in Botswana within the target group – youth aged 10-29 years.

In addition to reaching out to youth with life saving messages, YOHO has supported the institutional development of 10 youth serving organization in 10 health districts in Botswana. These are Ghantsi, Hukuntsi, Lobatse, Gaborone, Serowe, Letlhakane, Francistown, Selebi Phikwe, Mahalapye and Kasane. Working with indigenous organizations in these sites, YOHO has provided support to them with regards to the development of management policies in areas of finance, monitoring and evaluation, staff induction, volunteer management and governance. These groups are now recognized as a resources for HIV prevention within their respective districts. YOHO plans to serve 15 of such youth groups by 2013.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank all who visit this website and to extend the opportunity for feedback, as it may arise. I am hopeful you will enjoy using it as an educational resource and to learn about the services that YOHO and its affiliates offer within Botswana. In additional, I would like to acknowledge our funding agencies, without whom our projects would not be possible: the Botswana Government, the United States Government and  the African Comprehensive HIV/AIDS Partnership. Your support, both technically and financially have allowed us to prosper. Special thanks as well to the European Commission, presenting funders for this website development project, which I hope will help extend our messages to even more youth in Botswana as well as around the world.