Alinda is a young woman who grew up in Masanga village, where myths and stigma dominate facts about sexual health and HIV. As a young girl, Alinda witnessed firsthand how silence put young lives at risk because of the deep-rooted myth. She saw her friends’ dreams shattered by early pregnancies and HIV infections simply because they were afraid to seek the right information.
“Many of my friends had unplanned pregnancies at a young age. Some also got HIV infections. This happened because they lacked access to age-appropriate information and relied on myths and misinformation. I did not want to see many girls going through similar situations,” says Alinda.
Alinda chose to step up and dedicate herself to becoming a peer educator, guiding fellow youth on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) and HIV prevention through the You(th)Care Project. She has spent the last two years passionately educating fellow youth in Massanga with support from the project, which, among other things, provides a monthly stipend that supports her outreach work. Now that the project is nearing its end, Alinda is concerned about whether she will be able to sustain her initiative without further financial support.
“Honestly, like many other peer educators under the You(th)Care project, I was worried. I didn’t know how I would keep doing this work without the support we were used to. But I knew I didn’t want to stop, because it has helped me to have a good connection even at the hospital where I work,” says Alinda.
An intergenerational dialogue organized by the CDF brought together youth and key stakeholders, including local banks and the District Community Development Officer. The meeting opened Alinda’s eyes to new possibilities. She learned that by forming a group and getting officially registered, youth could access interest-free loans to start income-generating projects, making their work sustainable beyond the project’s lifetime.
Motivated by this opportunity, Alinda mobilized fellow peer educators and a few others from her community. Together, they formed a youth group, completed registration, and received official certificates. They are now positioned to access an interest-free loan.
Their goal is to launch a business that will support them financially while enabling them to continue their SRHR and HIV education.
“The intergenerational meeting gave us direction. We now know that we don’t have to stop — we just have to shift. Through this group and the upcoming loan, we’ll keep reaching and providing SRHR and HIV awareness to youth, with or without the project’s support,” says Alinda.
Alinda and her team now serve as a model for other youth, proving that with the right knowledge and connections, peer-led efforts can be sustained and scaled. From uncertainty to empowerment — Alinda’s story is a testament to the power of youth agency, strategic support, and community connection.
