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 young women reported feeling uncomfortable accessing services at local clinics. When seeking support such as contraceptives, information about body changes, or SRHR counselling, some hesitated to return for follow-up visits due to concerns about confidentiality, judgement, or unfriendly treatment from some service providers. As a result, a number of young women delayed or avoided accessing the services they needed to support their health and wellbeing.
To address this challenge and build trust between young people and health workers, CYDT brought together nurses from local clinics, local village health workers and young women from the community for an open and structured dialogue. At the beginning, both the young women and the health workers were reserved, reflecting the existing gap in communication and trust.
To ease the atmosphere, CYDT facilitated interactive activities and group exercises that encouraged participation, reflection, and mutual understanding. These activities helped both groups begin engaging more openly and comfortably with one another.
As the dialogue progressed, CYDT guided reflective exercises that allowed health workers to better understand the experiences of young women when accessing services. The discussions emphasized the importance of confidentiality, respect, non-judgmental attitudes, and youth-friendly communication in line with SRHR principles. Young women also shared their expectations of what a supportive and respectful clinic environment should look like.
By the end of the engagement, CYDT supported both groups in developing a shared “Kindness and Respect Agreement.” Each nurse added their handprint as a symbol of commitment to providing confidential, respectful, and youth-friendly services. This collective agreement marked an important step toward improving the quality of care and strengthening trust between young people and healthcare providers.
The impact of the intervention became visible in the months that followed. By December 2025, local clinics reported a significant increase in young women confidently accessing family planning and SRHR services, with monthly attendance rising from 80 to 160 clients.
The head nurse at a local clinic in Gwanda reflected on the change, stating:
“This process helped us understand the importance of creating a welcoming and respectful environment for young people. We have learned that confidentiality and kindness are essential to quality care.”
A 20-year-old participant also shared her experience, saying:
“I used to feel unsure about visiting the clinic, but now I feel comfortable and respected when I go there. The way we are treated has really changed.”
Through initiatives such as the Youth-Friendly Dialogue, CYDT continues to strengthen youth-friendly health systems and promote safe, respectful access to SRHR services for young people.