SAYWHAT Youths Action for Choice 2018-2021 SAYWHAT Youths Action for Choice 2018-2021 The impact of the SRH challenges is worsened by structural and underlying political, socio-cultural and economic factors. Sexuality Education for young people has not been mainstreamed and standardized in the education system. Young people continue to rely on informal sources of information which are sometimes inaccurate, age-inappropriate or not scientifically proven. Decisions for non-contraception use by adolescent girls and young women are further buttressed by powerful institutions that govern young people’s sexuality such as patriarchy, religion and cultural practises. Furthermore, some young people are faced with attitudinal and perception barriers of health service providers.Description of the contributionFollowing the above stated challenges, SAYWHAT proposes a three year, SEK16 000 000 Action for Choice (A4C) project. The A4C project is inspired by a belief in students’ power to make choices about their Sexual and Reproductive Health. It is built on an understanding that if students’ Sexual and Reproductive Health choices are broadened, there is increased potential for them to excel in other development facets such as education, professional careers and employability. The project aims to improve access to and utilisation of contraception, HIV and GBV services by students in 10 State Universities in Zimbabwe. It seeks to achieve this through harnessing the collective action of students, and strengthening their voices to make choices on SRH services that have an impact on their lives. It seeks to ensure that duty bearers craft policies and programs which are in line with students preferred choices with reference to choices that have been taken away from them on morality, religious and cultural grounds.Noting the high numbers of sexual abuse, SAYWHAT will ensure and facillitate that all universities and tertiary institutions have a Sexual Abuse and Sexual Exploitation (SASE) policy that protects that students (from fellow students and institution staff members) and details the reporting mechanisms and whistleblowing protocols.The Action for Choice Project shall primarily target as ultimate beneficiary’s students from the 10 State Universities. The project shall not be selective in excluding students and/or young people to be key beneficiaries of the project however, special attention shall be given to students with disabilities, students living with HIV, first year students, students on internship, and student survivors of Gender Based Violence.Objectives1. To strengthen life-skills, agency and assertiveness of students in 10 State Universities in Zimbabwe to make informed choices on their sexuality by 2021;2. To expose students to sexuality information and education using ICTs and multimedia in 10 State Universities by 2021.3. To improve delivery of sexuality information and education and access to youth friendly SRH services by students in 10 State Universities by 20214. Improved accountability by government and university authorities on the delivery of sexuality information and education and access to youth friendly SRH services by students.Expected Outcomes1. Students’ life-skills, agency and assertiveness are strengthened to make informed choices on their SRH, demand for and uptake of SRH services;2. Students exposed and reached with scientifically proven and culturally sensitive sexuality information and education;3. Improved relationships and supportive environment for students to make and sustain their choices on sexuality; Organsiationen The Students and Youth Working on reproductive Health Action Team (SAYWHAT) är en civilsamhällsorganisation (registered under Private and Voluntary Organisation Act PVO 34/2017) som arbetat sedan 2003 med SRHR för unga framförallt inom universiteten i Zimbabwe. 

SAYWHAT arbetar dynamiskt och innovativt med unga för att stärka unga kvinnors sexuella rättigheter samt att påverka myndighter och regierigen. Organisationen arbetar även med att påverka SADC (the Southern African Development Committee) och AU (the Africa Union) runt SRHR policy arbete. 

Främsta målgruppen för Sveriges nya strategin är ungdomar. Denna målgrupp är särskilt relevant då en av tre unga flickor i Zimbabwe utsätts för sexuella övergrepp innan de fyllt 16 år. Zimbabwe har även några av de högsta siffrorna vad gäller barnäktenskap och könsrelaterat våld i södra Afrika (mer information i Global Gender Gap Report och i Girls Not Brides Report). SAYWHAT programmet inkluderar ett rättighetsperspektiv och fattiga människors perspektiv på utveckling, och har ett särskilt fokus på utsatta ungdomar. 

Ambassaden bedömer denna insats som mycket intressant och relevant för vår strategi särskilt vad gäller område 1.3 Stärkta förutsättningar för jämställdhet och respekt för mänskliga rättigheter, med fokus på kvinnor och flickor; samt 2.2 Ökad tillgång till och respekt för sexuell och reproduktiv hälsa och rättigheter, framförallt för unga människor. Ett stöd till SAY WHAT innebär att vi kan minska antalet oönskade graviditeter och öka tillgången till preventivmedel bland unga kvinnor i Zimbabwe. Genom denna insats kommer Sverige att bidra till att fler ungdomar kan fatta välgrundade beslut om sin hälsa, sexualitet och reproduktion. Stödet till SAYWHAT kommer även att komplettera  stöde till Marie Stopes (PSZ) och Population Serviec International som arbetar med tillhandahavandet av preventivmedel. Objectives1. To strengthen life-skills, agency and assertiveness of students in 10 state universities in Zimbabwe to make informed choices on their sexuality by 2021; 2. To expose students to sexuality information and education using Information and communications technology and multimedia in 10 state universities by 2021.3. Improved accountability by government and university authorities on the delivery of sexuality information and education and access to youth friendly SRH services by students. 4. To improve delivery of sexuality information and education and access to youth friendly SRH services by students in 10 State Universities by 2021.
Expected Outcomes 1. Students’ life-skills, agency and assertiveness are strengthened to make informed choices on their SRH, demand for and uptake of SRH services; 2. Students exposed and reached with scientifically proven and culturally sensitive sexuality information and education; 3. Improved relationships and supportive environment for students to make and sustain their choices on sexuality