‘My Body, My Future Expo,’ champions youth well-being

Image Source: Raisedon Baya Facebook

By Nobukhosi Ndlovu

The Mzilikazi Youth Centre came alive on Friday, 28 November, as young people from across Bulawayo gathered for the My Body, My Future Expo 2025, a dynamic event designed to promote youth empowerment, sexual and reproductive health rights (SRHR), and inclusivity for all.

“My Body, My Future is a four year old project and the Expo was in a way a closing event for a project that has been running for four years,” Raisedon Baya, Intwasa Director and the My Body, My Future Expo Coordinator shared. He explained that the project has been run by a consortium of four organizations, led by Plan International, Sexual Rights Center, National Councils of Disabled Persons in Zimbabwe as well as Intwasa.

Baya also explained that the project was centered around youths, aiming to help young people get information and services on sexual and reproductive health rights. He mentioned that as Intwasa, there were projects implemented under My Body, My Future, namely the Amplifying Girls Voices Through Digital Arts where most of the content produced was focused on young people.

Kudzaishe Chibaya, a volunteer at the My Body My future Expo and also one of the Amplifying Girls Voices through Digital Arts project participants shared briefly on her experience at the Expo, “it was such a great opportunity to be around the public helping out with information and setting up for the event. It gave me the opportunity to actually understand how people felt about the whole event, they would come to ask questions and give views on the entire event, it made me feel good to be a part of something as big as the My Body My Future Expo. “

My Body, My Future Expo ran under the themes SRHR awareness, diversity and inclusion, offering a full day of education, services, and fun. From HIV self-test kits to STI screening, menstrual health education, contraceptive access, and emergency contraception, the expo brought SRHR services directly to youth in a safe and youth-friendly space.

Music and dance created an engaging environment where youth could express themselves and learn. Zumba sessions, sports and discussions drew in diverse crowds, making health education fun and interactive.

“The men’s talk was really interesting and motivational, We learnt a lot and men were encouraged to speak out rather than to bottle up challenges. Older males were also encouraged to reach out to younger males to guide and encourage them to become efficient men in the future. Basically I think the program was perfect because it was not one sided but gender equality was exercised perfectly,” Ali Ntini, one of the attendees of the event also shared briefly on his experience at the Expo.

The event also made strides toward disability inclusion. Praise Ndebele, Programs Manager of the National Council of Disabled Persons of Zimbabwe, one of the four consortium partners implementing the My Body, My Future project also explained just how the project catered for persons with disabilities.

“The main objective of the event was to ensure access to SRHR services for young people in their diversity. Young people with disabilities were mobilized, and temporary ramps were extracted to ensure young people with physical disabilities could access some facilities,” he said.

Ndebele went on to explain the challenges that young people with disabilities face in the society and healthcare facilities like information inaccessibility, mobility challenges and negative attitudes from society and health care providers.

“Most clinics do not have ramps, which makes it difficult for young people with disabilities to access,” he added.

“Increased knowledge about SRHR and where to access the services are some of the positive changes that the Expo has promoted,” Ndebele said, elaborating on the positive outcomes proven through evaluations following the implementation of the My Body, My Future project.

Ndebele also shared on how the My Body, My Future initiative has been ensuring inclusion for young people with disabilities. Recognizing that barriers exist at multiple levels, the project implemented a multi-layered approach.

First the interpersonal level, where teams conducted home visits for individuals who couldn’t access SRHR services and information. To ensure accessibility, information was shared in multiple formats, with support from sign language interpreters and the development of braille materials where needed.

On the intrapersonal and community level, the project worked to dismantle harmful stereotypes, particularly the myth that persons with disabilities are not sexually active. Through targeted community dialogues, young people with disabilities shared personal experiences of stigma and discrimination, raising awareness and encouraging empathy. Also, healthcare providers were trained on disability inclusion and basic sign language to better serve all clients.

The My Body, My Future has worked in 15 wards in Bulawayo and 11 in Kwekwe. The project started in 2022 and the Expo was one of the major close out events for the project.