By Edward Makuzva
ZICHIRE- BC Director, Walter Chikanya, has hailed the Brotha2 Brotha programme which uses sport as a mobilisation tool and key component of the behaviour change agent.
In an interview, Chikanya said sport is not just used for entertainment only, and talented boys are linked to scouting through this programme.
He added the country aims to “leave no one behind” and yet boys are not targeted and these young men are “left out” and have no other programmes specifically targeting them.
“This is a mentorship program for adolescent boys and young men that aims to provide accurate and relevant Sexual Reproductive Health Rights (SRHR) and Gender transformation information provide safe spaces, nurture sport talent and create responsible young men that contribute towards a Gender Based Violence free and a healthy community.
“Brotha2brotha clubs are mentorship groups for adolescent boys and young men, who are usually left out of most health and Gender Transformation (GT) and SRH programmes. These clubs offer safe, youth friendly and comprehensive GT and SRH information through a sport-centred intervention”, Chikanya explained.
The ZICHIRE- BC director highlighted that, the goal of the programme is to groom the youths into responsible men and reduce HIV, STI and GBV incidences.
“The clubs serve as information centers for troubled young men and offer referral pathways for Health and GBV services. Each mentor will have a group of 25 boys who are taught sessions that cover self-awareness, sexual awareness, social awareness and financial awareness after a risk assessment is conducted” he said.
The outcomes from the program include male role models positively influencing peers and community on & SRH including sexual abuse issues.
Males who have access to SRHR services and utilize referral pathways in various health services.
Chikanya said the pilot programmes were done recently, in Uzumba MarambaPfungwe, Mudzi and Marondera.
In these pilots, boys were mobilised through sport and SRH sessions as well as Focal Group discussions through the capacitated mentors (coaches) and over 900 youths were reached.
He added similar pilots were also conducted in various parts of Harare such as Harare CBD, Harare North West, Harare South West and Arcadia, and over 1000 people were reached.
Meanwhile, the programme was fully rolled out in Dzvivarasekwa, with the sports coaches being trained with 100 boys being recruited into the clubs.