Improving health and empowering youth
The Young and Powerful Initiative (YAPI), founded in 1998, is the development arm of South Rwenzori Diocese in Kasese District. The director of YAPI is Chrispus Mbauta.
Vision
A community with socio-economically empowered and productive youth of 35 years and below
Mission statement
To improve the health and livelihoods of the youth of 35 years and below through provision of friendly education, rights protection, economic empowerment, family health, guidance and counseling services
Goal
To improve the quality of life of the youth in Kasese District and beyond through the provision of tailored interventions by 2025
Strategic objectives
- To provide comprehensive HIV/AIDS services to youth in the community
- To strengthen the capacity of households and other stakeholders to correctively address issues that affect children/young people
- To develop practical life skills and livelihood support components among young people
Core values
- Integrity
- Commitment to service
- Love and compassion
- Empathy
- Accountability
Activities and core programs
YAPI will endeavor to execute the following thematic programs as presented in the table below.
| Program | Focus |
|---|---|
| HIV & AIDS program | HIV/AIDS prevention and mitigation SMC, health education, HCT/EMTCT, advocacy care and support for PLWHA (home-based care: nutrition, medicine, follow-ups) |
| Disaster risk reduction and emergency response | Disaster risk reduction, emergency response, awareness creation, rehabilitation, water, sanitation, and hygiene improvement (WASH), child protection, nutrition |
| Children & youth rights promotion and protection | Rights education, capacity building, child protection and legal support, OVC support |
| Reproductive health | Youth sexual reproductive health (family planning, safer sex practices, sex education), teenage and safe motherhood services (pre- and post–natal care/birth preparedness), economic empowerment and support (skill development) |
| Education support | Vocational education, literacy boosting, scholastic material support to school-going OVCs |
| Institutional development | Governance, logistics management, information management systems, financial systems, human resources |
Partnerships
The following are partners we have worked with:
| Donor organization | Purpose of assistance |
|---|---|
| Save the Children | MNCH, YES, HEMPEL, YIA |
| Mennonite Central Committee | WASH |
| US Embassy | Rainwater harvesting tanks, combating HIV/AIDS in Kasese District |
| FCDE | Capacity building |
| IRCU | HIV/OVC |
| PATHFINDER | HIV/AIDS, Family planning services |
| SCIPHA (JCRC) | HIV/AIDS |
| PHS (USAID) | OVC |
| Bantwana | OVC |