The crippling and paralyzing burden of HIV/AIDS especially in women and girls across the African continent, cannot be ignored, even more so in South Africa home to the world's largest population living with HIV/AIDS. It is important to educate, protect, and empower women and girls to reduce stigma, increase awareness for testing and prevention, increase access and adherence to treatment, and eventually end HIV.
CSI collaborates with Bolton College, a South Africa based college in Bloemfontein to address the high drop out rates due to unintended pregnancies, complications from self-inflicted injuries, and HIV. Through this collaboration, Bolton College anticipates fewer girls will drop out and graduate with necessary skills to live to their full potential. This initiative is a blend of CSI's Girl Talk, Girl Power and Keeping Youth Healthy, Alive, Informed (HAI) programs.
Increasing access to non-discriminatory, youth friendly testing services, referral services, information, and empowering youth is important to Get to Zero in the fight against HIV/AIDS and reduce maternal newborn deaths from unsafe abortions and preventable complications.
Education * Empowerment * Information * Self-enriching Opportunities * Advocacy