Wits RHI’s Schools Programme participated during PEPFAR, USAID and CDC Interagency visit for the DREAMS at Siyanakekela Community Centre in Johannesburg Health District
28 May 2024
On 14 May 2024, a high-level delegation from PEPFAR, USAID, and the CDC visited the Johannesburg Health District to evaluate the implementation and impact of the DREAMS programme. The visit included a meeting with officials and a joint site inspection with DREAMS implementing partners, including Wits RHI, NACOSA, HIVSA, PACT_Achieve, and Future Families, aiming to showcase the collaborative programme efforts to reduce new HIV infections among adolescent girls and young women in the district. The Ward Councillor for Sub-district C, the management of Siyanakekela Care Community Development Centre, and the Gauteng Department of Education Director for Life Skills also joined the visit.
During the visit, the delegation toured community-based DREAMS program sites to interact with program participants, beneficiaries, and community members who were present for the following DREAMS interventions: Intensive Economic Strengthening session, Protective Social Asset Building session, Comprehensive Sexual Reproductive Health services (Wits RHI), and Comprehensive Sexuality Education session.
DREAMS implementing partners demonstrated to officials that the DREAMS programme has been instrumental in transforming the lives of many girls and young women. The support from PEPFAR through USAID has enabled the implementation of sustainable interventions not only to reduce HIV infections but also to empower beneficiaries to build better futures for themselves. The visit concluded with a roundtable discussion where programme beneficiaries shared their stories of change and hope through their DREAMS journey. The delegation appreciated the DREAMS progress and impact in the Johannesburg Health District, emphasising the importance of collaborative efforts and the power of partnerships to achieve the programme’s goals.
In the photos: (top right) Delegation from PEPFAR, USAID, and CDC with DREAMS implementing partners; (middle) Community-based DREAMS program site.
