Improving sexual and reproductive health services for young people in Lesotho
In Lesotho’s Mafeteng district, VSO has partnered with the Ministry of Health to improve access to sexual and reproductive health (SRH) information and services for some of the area's most marginalised young people.
The project has established 17 dedicated young people’s spaces within the district’s health facilities, and trained 680 peer educators (40 in each facility), who work to share health information with young people.
Engaging the region’s most hard-to-reach young men
Among these peer educators are herd boys – one of the community’s most marginalised groups – who previously had little access to health information. Through the peer to peer approach, 40 educators have been able to engage with over 200 further herd boys.
VSO
Young people in Mafeteng come together to rate the sexual heath services available to them, and hold the Government to account where they fall short.
Bringing together young people from across Lesotho
The local informal spaces and platforms are linked to the national Lesotho Youth Consortium, which brings together 30 different youth organisations – representing over 100 young people – from across the country, from both rural and urban areas. Young people meet every two weeks to discuss issues of sexual and reproductive health, and learn from peer educators.
Taking the Government to task over youth-focused health services
In addition, Consortium members undertake advocacy work, holding the Government accountable on issues of young people’s access to SRH services.
There is also a network for young people with disabilities, ensuring that their rights are respected and that they are equally able to access services.
Find out more:
- More information on our work in Lesotho
- More information on our Volunteering for Development programme