Many factors contribute to the spread of the virus in Namibia, from social and sexual risk behaviours, such as high alcohol use, multiple / concurrent partnerships, inconsistent condom use / unprotected sex, transactional sex, and lack of knowledge of HIV status and HIV testing to the traditional role of women, gender inequalities, and poverty. Young people are as affected by these social and cultural factors as adults are.
Ombetja Yehinga Organisation Trust (OYO) aims to reduce the spread of HIV and AIDS in Namibia by promoting discussion and understanding of sexual health and social issues among young people using the creative and performing arts. To achieve this, we have developed four major components to our work.
Working with young people. We engage young people in creative arts work that promotes discussion and understanding of sexual health and social issues. We —
• set up and support AIDS Awareness Clubs for young people in schools (ages 10 - 14) and Youth Groups for out of school youth (ages 15 - 24)
• publish the highly popular magazine, OYO, Young, latest and cool
• organise regional tours of OYO youth group productions and a national festival each September. Learn more
Special projects. We run national and international projects that emphasise the creative arts, youth participation, gender equality, children and human rights, and issues surrounding HIV and AIDS. These have included films, books, exhibitions, theatre and dance productions, and international arts and cultural exchanges. Learn more
Training and supporting teachers on HIV transmission, prevention, testing, and treatment. We work with teachers and school managers to support them in their work with learners on HIV and AIDS. We publish training guides for teachers to support HIV and AIDS education in schools. Learn more
Researching sexuality and culture-sexual practices. We conduct anthropological research with a view to developing appropriate tools for communities to respond to HIV and AIDS. Learn more
TO MEET THE OYO STAFF click here
History of OYO
OYO first began as a project of the Kunene Regional Council in 2001, when a group of teachers approached Philippe Talavera, searching for new and engaging ways to convey information about HIV and AIDS to learners. It was felt that conventional teaching methods were making little impact on learners and that a more creative response was needed.
One of Ombetja Yehinga’s first projects was a writing competition for young people in Kunene. As entries poured in, it became apparent that the young people involved were finally showing interest in HIV/AIDS issues and genuine interest in the arts. The winning entries were adapted for the screen and made into a collection of five short films around HIV and AIDS, entitled Love Can Cry. Not wanting to lose momentum, OYO decided that it should begin encouraging learners to use their creative writing to communicate rather than compete with each other, and the OYO magazine was born.
Ombetja Yehinga Organisation was established as a Namibian social welfare organization (WO 199) in December 2002, and expanded its work to the Khomas and Erongo regions in 2003. In 2009, the Ombetja Yehinga Organisation Trust (OYO), a charitable and educational trust (T109/09), was established to provide a new framework for the organization.
