Before the introduction of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) in Botswana young people faced a harsh reality, confusion about their changing bodies, fear of asking and nowhere to ask about their changing bodies. Conversations about sexuality are an abomination, if at all they happen, myths took the shine instead of facts.

Awareness has always been shared, but awareness cannot not make a greater change, action is needed for change to be seen or felt.  Youth-led SRHR advocacy has brought in a vibrant shake in the health sector where the youth itself is taking action not just raising awareness.

SAT Botswana has involved the youth of Botswana through its initiative Youth Hub, where adolescent and young people are capacitated with advocacy skills. Not only are they being capacitated with advocacy skills, they are also put through mentorship programs to build their confidence, agency and leadership and providing them with tools and social network and offers sexual comprehensive education (SCE). These initiative helps motivate the youth to be more proactive in their own lives and communities.

Together with relevant ministries the youth get the opportunity in reviewing policies with young people’s interests at heart. In partnerships like organizations like UNEFPA Botswana and UNAIDS SAT Botswana have empowers the youth with advocacy skills and build a network of young adolescents for gender equality

Through youth led SRHR advocacy, the youth have fought and is still fighting to break the stigma and discrimination that adolescents and young people are facing to access sexual and reproductive health and rights. Young people have been facing judgmental attitudes from families, schools and healthcare service providers, this makes it hard for them to open and receive the help they have to get. In partnerships with relevant stakeholders parents and the community capacitated to break the stereotype around sex and relationship talks at home.

SAT Botswana advocates for youth friendly services and clinics where young people can freely access. There is the YouthWyze mobile clinic which goes around offering onset HIV and STI’s testing, and family planning contraceptives on spot. YouthWyze also implements systems of community and youth led monitoring of health services, so as to provide user feedback on quality services to duty bearers and strengthen health systems. There is also Botswana Family Welfare Association have a clinic which is open for the youth mostly. Youth friendly clinics play a very important role in ensuring that adolescents and young people can access quality, confidential and tailored SRHR and empowering youth to make informed decisions about their reproductive health.

In conclusion, the shift from mere awareness to active engagement through youth led SRHR advocacy has made a transformative milestone in Botswana’s health sector. The impact is clear, more informed, stronger health service and communities that are slowly but surely learning to listen and support the rights of adolescents and young people.