Menstruation & Pregnancy, Men As Partners, Contraceptive Choices, Female Condom, Male Condom, Progestin-only Contraceptive Pills, The IUD, Female Sterilization, Male Vasectomy, PPASA services and programmes, Voluntary Counselling and Testing, The Journey, A History of Adolescent Reproductive Health Services 1991 - 2004, Teen Parent Report (click here to view report)

Programme Expansion and Development [Highlights for 2002]

Millions of young voices. The national Million Voices Initiative (MVI) peer education conference was held 7–12 July 2002, attended by two staff members and four youth representatives from all Adolescent Reproductive Health Services (ARHS) sites (both branded and non-branded). Participants also welcomed with a song the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) Africa Regional Office (ARO) delegates at the organisation’s 50th anniversary celebrations at the Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg. Various MVI provincial launches were held around the country with the aim to encourage more young people to join the peer education programme.

Second loveLife Games. The Second National loveLife Games were held in KwaZulu-Natal between 31 September and 4 October 2002. Minister of Sports and Recreation Ngconde Balfour opened the ceremony, with Minister of Education Professor Kader Asmal and Durban Mayor Obed Mlaba attending along with participants from every province. Thousands of young people have been coached in soccer, netball and basketball at centres around the country. Computer Skills (Cyber Y’s) and debating have also been offered at many centres.

Breaking new ground. loveLife has established a national volunteer programme of groundbreakers who are 18-25 year olds, otherwise unemployed, working to mobilise local action to prevent HIV/AIDS, Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) and teenage pregnancy. In 2002, there were 649 active volunteers/groundBREAKERS across the country (compared to 67 in 2001) based in all nine provinces and placed in different loveLife initiatives as implementers/coordinators. An additional 61 groundBREAKERS completed the programme, 26 of whom secured employment.

Help is just a call away. There is nothing more engaging than a one-to-one talk, which is a free service provided by the loveLife call centre thethajunction, operated by PPASA. thethajunction fielded an average of more than 40 000 calls per month in 2002. An internal evaluation of the call centre found that most callers said they were satisfied with the service that the counselors were friendly, helpful, patient, polite, understanding, honest and respectful.

More contraceptives and education for communities. Community Based Reproductive Health Services (CBRHS) permits for the provision of contraceptives to the public were extended to December 2002 by the National Directorate of Pharmaceutical and Planning, Department of Health (DOH).

Upington launches friendly clinic initiative. The National Adolescent Friendly Clinic Initiative (NAFCI) was launched in Upington on 23 March 2002 by mayors Gift van Staden and Sicelo Mbondezi. The launch started with a fun run and a float by the fire department, traffic police, paramedics and community members. This was followed by speeches, sports, debates and an awards ceremony. NAFCI aims to improve the quality of adolescent health services at primary care level and to strengthen the public sector’s ability to respond appropriately to adolescent health needs.

Youth centres get makeovers. The revamp of the Khayelitsha Youth Centre, especially the vitality room, chill room and waiting area, has made the environment attractive to young people. There has been a big increase in the number of young people accessing the services since the centre operates a youth friendly service five days a week and has a sessional nurse who offers the service over weekends and public holidays. The Grace Mugodeni Youth Centre in Limpopo was also revamped.

More Y-Centres launched. Four more Y-Centres were launched: Bizana, Eastern Cape, Nongoma, KwaZulu-Natal, Emalahleni, Mpumalanga and Colesberg, Northern Cape. This brings the total to 27 youth centres offering adolescent-friendly services (16 of which are branded loveLife Y-Centres that include Body Y’s and Cyber Y’s and sports and recreation facilities).

For the mind and body. Voluntary Counselling & Testing (VCT) pilots were conducted at three Y-Centres. A summarised report was received from Reproductive Health Research Unit (RHRU) researchers together with a checklist questionnaire to enable Y-Centres to assess them. Fitness challenge programmes were piloted at five Y-Centres and young people found them to be fun and interesting.

Access to information. The national Resource Centre was launched at the national office on 6 August 2002 showcasing its wealth of sexual and reproductive health information and resources to share with staff, friends and the public. Resources were re-organised using the Dewey decimal classification system. The Libwin cataloguing system was updated and an on-line catalogue was set up.

Entrepreneurship training for young people. Through a partnership with Skills for Africa and the Womens’ Development Bank Investment Holdings, an entrepreneurship programme was set up to train out-of-school young people in basic business skills. The first training workshop was conducted in October 2002 for 30 young people from Gauteng and the Free State. After training, the young people are offered business support and advice to design business plans for prospective enterprises.

Men As Partners. A Men As Partners (MAP) evaluation was conducted in the Western Cape and Gauteng as a step toward the country-wide roll out programme. This specific evaluation looked at the inclusion of a module on cervical cancer awareness in the MAP workshops.

Skills for Refugees. The Refugee Life Skills project conducted an evaluation of gender-based violence within the refugee community in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal. This was a collaborative effort between the provincial staff and a UNHCR consultant in August. The recommendations led to the improvement of service provision and also a change of the mindset of the refugee community on gender issues.

More loveLife franchises. The number of loveLife franchises grew from 17 in 2001 to 96 in 2002. The Franchise Initiative is a way to multiply positive lifestyle messages at a community level by using existing independent non government and community based organizations that are working with young people.

Resource Development and Sustainability [Highlights for 2002]

loveLife partnership. loveLife remained an integral source of financial support for PPASA as the loveLife programmes that PPASA operates expanded rapidly throughout the year. Launched in September 1999 as a partnership of the Health Systems Trust, the Henry J Kaiser Family Foundation, PPASA and the Reproductive Health Research Unit, loveLife has become one of the most innovative South African initiatives in adolescent sexual and reproductive health.

Nelson Mandela Foundation & loveLife partnership. Former president Nelson Mandela and former US president Bill Clinton were the special guests at the launch of the partnership between loveLife and the Nelson Mandela Foundation. The launch took place at the Orange Farm Y-Centre with much excitement and celebration.

Every cent accounted for. To bring our financial and administrative systems in line with this growth, loveLife has provided support for improving these systems so that we function in the most efficient and cost-effective way. This support has included ongoing system improvements and training in financial management.

More financial managers. We increased the number of finance managers in the provinces. In addition, a new finance manager was appointed at national office to increase capacity and support to the provinces and national programmes.

PPASA Centre of Excellence. Groundwork was laid for the establishment of a Section 21 Company called the PPASA Centre of Excellence that will run income-generating training programmes on sexual and reproductive health and HIV/AIDS. PPASA will also show case PPASA models of best practice. These programmes will be especially geared for public and private sector workplaces but flexible to cater to a variety of clientele.

Public sector support. The Provincial Department of Social Services & Population Development under the auspices of the Alexandra Renewal Project requested PPASA Gauteng to run a Teenage Pregnancy Programme in schools in Alexandra Township. The Department has injected R150 000 to begin the project. The Department also identified and developed three Department of Social Services and Population Development sites. The National Department of Health supported a Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission of HIV/AIDS programme in Limpopo province.

Working with young prisoners. Outreach work with the Johannesburg Prison (Sun City) started for juvenile prisoners and women inmates. Additional work with prisons in Gauteng and the Western Cape was part of the Men As Partners (MAP) programme.

New Zealand support for skills. In Gauteng, the Zimele Women Wellness Project was initiated to overcome financial constraints of providing an honorarium for the CBRHS volunteers. The project looks at skills development and empowering women with skills such as catering, flower arranging, sewing and bead making. The New Zealand Agency for International Development( NZAID) has agreed to fund the project for three years.

Skills Assessment. In line with being able to continue to attract and keep highly skilled staff, PPASA embarked on a skills assessment system in order for staff to be fairly graded and paid according to their skills and qualifications. An exit programme for HR to formally interview all departing staff was also implemented in order to record staff experiences.

Strengthening the Institution [Highlights for 2002]

HR staff handbook. A Human Resources handbook for all staff members was developed and distributed. A training and development policy was approved, the remuneration policy review was finalised and phase 1 of the market related salary scales was completed. All affected employees were put at the entry level of the new salary scales with effect from September 2002.

Provident Fund for all staff. For the first time in the organisation’s history, all employees became members of the PPASA Liberty Life Provident Fund. Provident fund certificates were issued and a new payslip was designed and implemented.

Performance Management. All managers were trained in Performance Management Systems. Workshops were also held for project managers, youth educators and vitality services providers. This was part of an ongoing programme to ensure that all staff, especially new managers, are well-versed in the Performance Management Systems of the organisation.

Staff excellence awards. The following staff members were awarded certificates for excellent work. In the Eastern Cape: Patrick Godana, Catherine Karools, Nomalizo Mlisana, Suzanne Peterseil, Anna Erasmus, Mary Derda, Odwa Macingwane, David Gaga, Hazel Maweni, Nomxolisi Thompson, Maureen Pikoli and Sabina Plaatjies. In the Free State: Mamotho Khotseng. In Gauteng: Georgina Mokadi, Neo Motsumi, Sibusiso Mngadi, Vusi Cebekhulu and Abaphia Baloyi. In KwaZulu-Natal: Ntokozo Clarice Mkhize won best manager, Renita Bloem won best Body Y's provider and Tim Phiri won best educator. In Limpopo: Maria Nemo. In the Western Cape: Julia Limba and Adelaide Mtimkulu. In the national office: Shireen Jugnarayan, Thabile Dube, Thato Matladi, Mamotshidisi Mokuena, Esther Ngwenya and Thembisa Bekwa.

New ways to collect data. The review of the organisation’s Management Information Systems (MIS) saw the finalisation of data collection formats. MS Excel data collection tools were developed and tested at the National Office.

IMPROVING ADVOCACY AND LOBBYING [Highlights for 2002]

Happy 70th Birthday PPASA! The Annual Members Assembly (AMA) on 21 September 2002 commemorated the 70th anniversary of the organisation. Many PPASA partners such as the Department of Health, Department of Social Services and various CBOs and NGOs, volunteers, staff and National Council members attended. Youth from Alexandra presented the history of the organisation in the form of drama of milestones. Dr Maria Mabetoa from the Department of Social Development gave the keynote address.

Spreading the word. PPASA participated in the World Summit onr Sustainable Development (WSSD) by setting up an exhibition stall at Ubuntu Village. The exhibition provided both a forum and an opportunity for PPASA to profile its work, market the organisation and to network with other national and international organisations. PPASA also exhibited Information, Education & Communication (IEC) materials at a Department of Education conference at Gallagher Estate and at the IPPF ARO conference, which was held at the Sandton Convention Centre and where PPASA won the best exhibition stall.

Hosting European parliamentarians. The national office and the Gauteng provincial office co-hosted the European Parliamentarian delegation that attended the WSSD on 31 August 2002. The CEO presented a profile of PPASA and its projects before the group visited sites around Gauteng where the CBRHS and Groups at Higher Risk projects were showcased at Freedom Park and Lenasia respectively.

Resource and radio outreach. A resource centre/satellite library was established in July 2002 at the Kimberley Youth Centre in Northern Cape. The weekly radio talk shows continued as part of the outreach programme to the community. During Women’s month (August) and September, the project site was very busy with activities including the School AIDS week. These programmes were drawn up jointly with the Departments of Health and Education.

Collaboration on cervical cancer awareness. PPASA Western Cape formed partnership with the Women’s Health Research Unit, the Gender Advocacy Unit, the Department of Health and the Cancer Association to produce a pamphlet on cervical cancer entitled ‘Protect your health: every woman over 30 should have a Pap smear’.

Promoting healthy lifestyles. Most of the projects around the country participated in various activities to promote sexual and reproductive health and condom use. These activities were planned for Condom Week, Valentine’s Day, Human Rights Day, Women’s Month and World AIDS Day. In the Eastern Cape, Human Rights Day was celebrated differently as it marked the launch of MAP programme in the province. The theme of the launch was ‘Men of quality do not fear inequality”.

Health is a priority. The Reproductive Health Priority Conference took place from 1 to 4 October 2002 in KwaZulu-Natal. Staff members from national office and project sites delivered presentations on lessons learned in sexual and reproductive health.

Special guests at Orange Farm. The Orange Farm Y-Centre staff hosted visitors from Deloitte & Touche, Ster Kinekor, UNICEF, Save the Children UK and Coca-Cola.