Project PrEP Youth Training Camp – an expert engagement!

The Project PrEP HIV prevention ambassadors, better known as the CIA (community information agents), attended the Project PrEP CIA Youth Training Camp from 7-11 October 2024 at a youth camp venue just outside of Krugersdorp in the beautiful Cradle of Humankind. This group of young women from the four project implementation clusters, Tshwane, eThekwini, Mthatha, and Motherwell in Gqerberha, come from different walks of life, but all have one passion in common, realizing comprehensive HIV prevention for young women in South Africa.

The training camp had a full agenda and kicked off on Monday with knowledge building in relation to HIV prevention, PrEP Choice, ambassador skills, and self-care; this training concluded Wednesday midday when the skills building commenced. CIAs were given practical training in relation to facilitating health talks with their peers and in their communities, creating social media content with impact, planning, and budgeting for social mobilization activities, and an intensive session on how to start your own CBO. CIAs were also given the opportunity to propose their own unique demand generation activity in their community, and with the support of Project PrEP, these activities will be implemented in 2024/25!

Photo Gallery: Young women from Project PrEP clusters across South Africa gather at the Youth Training Camp in the Cradle of Humankind, building skills, sharing knowledge, and forming lifelong bonds in their mission to advance HIV prevention.

Of course, no youth camp is complete without a bit of fun! Between all the training and skills-building sessions, the organizers made time for a beautiful nature hike and scavenger hunt, beating an obstacle course, a team drumming session, and late-night hot chocolate and snacks. Young women from different parts of South Africa quickly became besties and are hopefully tied together for life in their quest to serve their communities and make a meaningful difference in one of the greatest public health emergencies our country is still facing.

Project PrEP is committed to meaningful youth engagement and investing as much in our young clients as they invest in us. Since its inception, the project has worked closely with young people in communities to ensure its service delivery is relevant and resonant with end-users. Young people, especially AGYW, are valued as experts in their own right and included in project design, implementation, and planning. The Project PrEP CIA Youth Training Camp was yet another step in ensuring the project equips young people with the necessary skills to contribute meaningfully to Project PrEP and the communities they live in, specifically with a view of sustainability post-Project PrEP.