Educate 20000 Namibian teenagers on HIV using Arts

As you know, the Ombetja Yehinga Organisation (OYO) is a Namibian NGO that uses Arts to create social awareness. In our last reports, we were glad to mention that the beginning of 2022 looked better. Sadly, the following months have been difficult again, mostly because of the constant increase in petrol cost.

After difficult months, especially from May to August 2022, we were relieved to have lots of activities between September and December. We were delighted to learn that our project ‘Gentlemen and Supergirl phase II’ was approved by the Embassy of Finland and will allow us to expand activities to the Oshana region in 2023 and Kunene region in 2024. We were also delighted to learn that our project ‘Growing strong in the ||Kharas region’ will continue in 2023 thanks to Horizon Trust, and will allow us to organize the second ||Kharas Youth Performing Arts Festival.

Between September and December, we started implementing a smaller version of the ‘Gentlemen and Supergirls’ project in the Erongo and Oshikoto regions, thanks to support from the Canadian Fund for Local Initiatives (CFLI). The OYO dance troupe visited schools in the region and our counsellor had two opportunities to offer his services in the regions – providing support to 95 and 112 learners respectively. The schools will also have a chance to see the exhibition ‘the caring Namibian man’ in January. 

Thanks to UNFPA, we also presented ‘the caring Namibian man’ photo exhibition in the Kunene and Omaheke regions, reaching 2,142 learners, we toured the OYO dance troupe to schools in Windhoek, reaching 3,974 learners and our youth counselor attended to 147 cases in those regions.

Finally, we embarked on a huge campaign around World AIDS Day to promote to the U=U campaign of the Ministry of Health and Social Services thanks to support from UNICEF and UNAIDS. It is an interesting project that can be used as a model of best practice as it involves two NGOs (OYO and the Walvis Bay Corridor Group), one youth-led organization (Youth Empowerment Group), the Ministry of Health and Social Services, two UN agencies (UNAIDS and UNICEF) and the regional RACOC. The campaigns took place in the Zambezi, Khomas and Erongo region. They reached 9,879 people. 1,629 got tested for HIV during the campaign and now know their status. Those testing positive have been initiated on ARVs. Those testing negative have learnt about PrEP. Hopefully lessons have been learnt to pave the way for more such opportunities.

Despite all those achievements, we still find it difficult to make month end meets. We have a very limited cashflow. We are trying to generate more income: for instance, we had a few dance performances that generated income for OYO. In particular we created a choreography on ‘Finlandia’ for the Finnish National Day and performed at the Franco-Namibian Cultural Centre for the International Human Rights Day. We however still need support.  

One of our next crises is transport. Our limited fleet is getting old, with all the cars reaching 200,000km. We desperately need to add a new car to our fleet but find it difficult to secure funding. We therefore count on you to spread the word and help us raise much needed funding for OYO. We know how difficult the last two years have been for you all – so your generosity and support are not going unnoticed. THANK YOU.

Our link is still: https://www.globalgiving.org/projects/using-arts-educate-4000-namibian-teenagers-on-hiv

If you have any friends who may be able to support us, please do share the link. We greatly appreciate all the support we can get, no matter how big or small. Meanwhile we would like to take this chance to wish you and your loved ones a Merry Christmas and Happy Festive Season. 

Links:

• OYO facebook
• OYO official website