eSwatini Case Study
Crime Sensitization in Eswatini
SANOP Eswatini visited the rural community of Maphungwane in Siteki. The community engagement activity took place in St Paul’s and Peter’s Church and aimed to equip the community, particularly the youth, with knowledge pertaining to various areas of life including crime prevention and life skills education. Such community engagements allow SANOP Eswatini to counter the issues facing the youth in the country such as increased crime, pregnancy, and HIV/AIDS.
The community activity took place on the 26th of October 2021 and the program had three segments including warm up activities, life skills education including Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights, and crime sensitization. The warmup activities proved to be of great value as they aid in determining the participants’ beliefs regarding social issues such as gender norms, sexuality as well as understanding their day-to-day values and experiences. The warmup activities were central in identifying gaps in knowledge or areas that need further intervention especially among the youth.
The ‘life skills education’ segment of the program focused on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights. The youth gained knowledge about HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted illnesses, as well as prevention methods that are available to them. To foster active participation, volunteers from the audience were utilised to demonstrate proper condom use. This was essential as it revealed whether the youth were using condoms correctly or not. The Covid-19 pandemic has contributed to the high pregnancy rates amongst teenagers.
Given the significant rise in pregnancy cases among youths due to the COVID-19 pandemic, SANOP distributed condoms to participants and other youths in the area.
Southern Africa Network of Prisons
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Phase 4, Gaborone West, Botswana