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About Us

Overview

OneVoice South Africa is a vibrant and unique non-governmental organisation, which uses innovative and creative ways of actively involving young people in HIV and AIDS prevention. Our programme is appealing to young people because it provides them with a platform to discuss and address HIV and AIDS, sexual reproductive health, gender and human rights issues.

Being a young person in South Africa is not always easy. Growing up is a journey often burdened with the effects of a seemingly unrelenting AIDS epidemic, educational systems still recovering from the country’s previous inequalities – and the inevitable trials and tribulations of negotiating adolescence.

We therefore feel it is crucial to target young South Africans (13-19 years). We believe these young people are in a stage of transition from childhood to adolescence to adulthood, which is both a time of risk and opportunity for change. By teaching learners to use specific life skills and linking these to the realities young people face – OneVoice South Africa hopes to support behaviour change and ultimately, a reduction in HIV incidence and prevalence.

We are passionate about working with young people from diverse cultural backgrounds, from different geographical areas and from various settings, including in education and in the community for the following reasons:

  • most young people become sexually active between 13 and 24;
  • most new infections are between 15 and 24, mainly among young women;
  • young people’s minds are more receptive to creative and inclusive messaging; and
  • young people are our future leaders and role models.

Our Vision

A safe and creative environment where young people are part of the collective voice to develop positive lifestyles in the HIV and AIDS response.

Our Mission

To promote meaningful participation of young people in making informed decisions about health and lifestyle, including sexual reproductive health within our communities.

Our Strategic Approach

OneVoice South Africa aims to achieve its Vision and Mission by:

  • Designing and implementing age, gender and culturally appropriate prevention programmes.
  • Combining education, information and creative expression to engage young people.
  • Building involvement with parents/caregivers, families, peers, communities, schools and workplaces.
  • Contributing to knowledge production through programme development, by conducting high quality monitoring and evaluation activities.
  • Raising public awareness by disseminating evidence and experience-based information to stakeholders.
  • Creating a safe environment for young people’s voices to be heard.

Our Core Values

Our work is guided by the following:

  • Integrity
  • Openness
  • Transparency and accountability
  • Dignity, respect and empathy
  • Promoting diversity and equity
  • Defending human rights

Our Programme

OneVoice South Africa implements a school-based life skills programme which provides young people with a platform to discuss and address HIV and AIDS, life skills, sexual reproductive health, gender and human rights issues. Our overall aim is to support a reduction in new HIV infections among young people. The Schools Programme is implemented  in KwaZulu-Natal, Eastern Cape and Western Cape. In the long term, we envisage expanding into other provinces and elaborating our programme scope to include more young people from different age groups. Our focus will be targeted and specific to the current realities affecting the lives of young South Africans. Furthermore, meaningful participation of young people will become an integral part of our programme development and we anticipate creating a Youth Advisory Board (funding dependent) to help guide and provide feedback on our programmes.

OneVoice South Africa was formerly known as ‘dance4life South Africa’ and is based in South Africa. Our head office is in Durban (KwaZulu-Natal) and we have regional offices in East London (Eastern Cape) and in Cape Town (Western Cape). We have experience working as a non-government organisation in HIV and AIDS prevention and acquired a wealth of experience in developing and implementing HIV and AIDS projects with and for young people.

We have also established networks and developed partnerships with several national and international organisations such as the Department of Education, the CINDI Network, Mindset Health, DramAidE, STOP AIDS NOW! and many others.

Our work is guided by an independent Board of Directors, who are passionate and committed to HIV and AIDS prevention. Members play an important role in the governance of the organisation and offer guidance in their respective areas of expertise, including financial, organisational development and human resources, programme content as well as media and communications. We currently employ 28 staff members from a wide range of professional backgrounds, including health and social sciences, and we are committed to employment equity and diversity.

Schools across South Africa

To date, we have successfully implemented our Schools Programme in 74 schools across KwaZulu-Natal, Eastern Cape and Western Cape.

The Schools Programme helps young people to learn how to take responsibility for their health, lifestyles and futures, and also supports the Government’s Life Orientation Module. More specifically, the programme is aligned with The HIV & AIDS and STI Strategic Plan for South Africa (NSP 2007-2011) in terms of life skills, HIV prevention, and better sexual reproductive health in the 15-24 year age group. In the NSP, young people are identified as a specific target group and as such our overall programme is directly in line with this specific focus. Furthermore, our overall prevention focus on young people is directly linked to the following NSP goals:

  • Priority Area One : Prevention – 50% reduction in HIV incidence by 2011
  • Goal One: Reduce Vulnerability to HIV infection and Impact of AIDS
  • Goal Two: Reduce Sexual Transmission of HIV

The OneVoice South Africa Schools Programme contains a fun yet in-depth life skills programme for 13–19 year olds (predominantly Grade 8). Through an interactive and creative programme, young people learn more about HIV and AIDS, including; the basics of HIV and AIDS, prevention, addressing HIV-related stigma, cross generational relationships and multiple concurrent partnerships. Taking part in the programme provides them with a high-energy, informative and connective experience, as well as an opportunity to help curb the spread of HIV and AIDS. In addition, young people pick up valuable skills on a range of sexual reproductive health issues, which they can apply to their lives on a daily basis.

During, and at the end of the programme, young people are encouraged to take action! This could mean anything from making a change in your own life, becoming a volunteer, fundraising for a community project, or spreading awareness.