CYDT conducted a series of Youth-Friendly Dialogue engagements from August to December 2025 at local community health centres in Plumtree and Gwanda. These engagements were designed to strengthen the relationship between young people, Village health workers and healthcare providers, particularly in relation to Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) services. Before this intervention, many […]
Making Clinics Safe for Young Women Read More »
Youths in Gwanda have expressed deep-seated grievances regarding the poor service delivery in the town, which has been a persistent issue for quite some time. Despite numerous complaints, little has been done to address these concerns. The youths have highlighted several areas of dissatisfaction, including waste management, water supply, public transportation, infrastructure, healthcare services, and
The State of Service Delivery: Youths voice their concerns Read More »
Following her attendance at several strategic meetings and trainings organized by the CYDT on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR), Ms. Nokuthaba Ncube, a local young woman from Ward 6 in Gwanda, launched a health campaign to protect and educate her peers. The targeted initiative, which commenced in June 2024 and continues to run
Youth Championing Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights Read More »
CYDT implemented a digital storytelling and online engagement campaign from February to July 2025 across Beitbridge, Gwanda and Umzingwane targeting young women and youth in a busy border province where misinformation about health and sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) was increasingly circulating on social media platforms. Many young women were exposed to misleading
Fighting Misinformation on Social Media: Strengthening SRHR Awareness Among Young Women Read More »
A group of adolescent and young women in Gwanda Rural have been supported to remain in education and make informed life choices through a community-based empowerment initiative led by CYDT. The initiative, implemented from January to June 2024, established “Young Women Girl Power Clubs” across rural communities to address challenges related to early marriage pressures,
Young Women Empowerment: Girl Power Clubs Initiative Read More »
In a remote rural village in Gwanda, there lived a bright and ambitious 18-year-old young woman named Thandie. Having recently completed her secondary education, she was preparing for the transition into adulthood, where new opportunities, independence, and responsibilities were beginning to shape her future. However, she noticed that many young women in her community lacked
Thandie’s New Choice: Learning About the “Double Shield” Strategy Read More »
By Bongiwe Dube Even when everyday life became difficult due to lockdowns and health crises in September 2022, young people in Matabeleland South did not sit back. Instead, a brave group of trained youth community champions stepped up to protect their villages. Through a grassroots movement focused on peer accountability, these champions took the vital
Fighting Impunity: SRHR Champions Leading the Peer Movement Read More »
By Bongiwe Dube Communities across Matabeleland South are taking steps forward by changing how they talk about sexual reproductive health rights (SRHR). For many years, this region has been guided by deep traditional beliefs and cultural norms that treated sex and reproductive health as a complete taboo which cannot be spoken about openly. In the
Bridging the Generational Gap: Community Leaders and Parents Confront SRHR Taboos Read More »
By Bongiwe Dube For a long time, policies regarding youth health and well-being were made by older adults sitting in distant offices. Young people were merely expected to accept whatever decisions were handed down to them. However, through social accountability forums organized by the Community Youth Development Trust (CYDT), the youth of Matabeleland South are
Nothing About Us Without Us: Youth Shaping Health Decision Making Read More »
Social Media, Technology, and Grassroots Campaigns on SRHR When young people are given the right tools and information, they do not wait for change to find them. Instead, they create change themselves. Throughout the implementation of the sexual reproductive health rights (SRHR) project by the Community Youth Development Trust (CYDT), IN 2021, the youth of
Social Media, Technology, and Grassroots Campaigns on SRHR Read More »
