For too long, conversations about sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) and gender equality in Chikobo Community were considered "women's issues." Men and boys rarely attended clinic sessions, and discussions about family planning, condom use, or adolescent sexual health were often seen as a taboo, especially among young males.
But for Kennedy Mulenga, a 22-year-old youth community mobiliser, things started to change the day he joined a new health group at the local clinic in October 2024.
We were always told SRHR is for women," Kennedy explains. "But when I heard about a group just for men and boys, I got curious. I joined because I wanted to understand things better and help others too.
With support from the Safeguarding Young People (SYP) Programme, Chikobo Clinic launched a transformative men and boys' group. This initiative implemented by Southern Africa HIV and AIDS Information Dissemination Service (SAfAIDS), with support through a co-financing agreement between the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands and UNFPA brought together male adolescents, community volunteers, and traditional, civic, and religious leaders.
The aim is to involve men and boys in discussing and leading change around SRHR issues. The group quickly became a powerful force in the community. They used creative methods like community drama, performing skits in the marketplace and other public spaces to captivate attention. These performances were not just for entertainment; they tackled real-life issues, demystify myths about family planning, addressed the stigma surrounding STI testing, and challenged the pressure young boys face to conform to harmful social norms.
Our skits would show a man refusing to get tested and later regretting it," Kennedy says. "People laugh, but they also introspect. That's when they come to us and ask questions, either openly or privately. We listen, and then we take them to the clinic if they want help.
When the group started, Chikobo Clinic was grappling with a rise in STI cases among males. Within months of the community outreach efforts, that began to change. The clinic recorded a 130% increase in men seeking SRHR services, including STI treatment.
It's not that men didn't care," says Nurse Mwansa at Chikobo Clinic. "They just needed someone they could relate to, someone to help them take the first step.
Chief Liteta, the area's traditional leader, also noticed the positive change through his headmen. "For too long, we left the burden of sexual reproductive health on women," he observes. "But now our boys and men are learning, speaking out, and protecting their families. This is real progress."
Seeing the need for wider access, the group teamed up with local shop owners and bar attendants to make condoms available in informal but trusted spaces. "At first, people laughed when we put condoms in these informal but trusted spaces," Kennedy recalls, chuckling. "But now, they're being used. Some even ask when we will restock. The only problem is, we run out faster than we are supplied."
Despite the challenge of condom shortages, the energy in Chikobo is undeniable. The men and boys' group are not just improving health outcomes; they're also reshaping how masculinity is understood. From accompanying peers to the clinic to speaking out against child marriage, the group's influence runs deep.
I used to think being a man meant keeping quiet," Kennedy reflects. "Now I know that real strength is protecting others and speaking up on issues including SRHR issues.
In 2024, the SYP programme conducted thirty-five community dialogues in three districts in Central Zambia on harmful norms and practices, reaching 27,332 participants (57% female) including leaders. These dialogues resulted in greater community support for ASRH services and a stronger collective effort to protect adolescents' rights and well-being.
About the Safeguarding Young People Project
UNFPA_ESARO and Zambia Country Office have been implementing the SYP Programme since November 2013. The programme provides comprehensive support, including protection against STIs and HIV, reducing unintended pregnancies and unsafe abortions, and promoting gender-equitable norms. It also champions legal and policy reforms, improved access to integrated, youth-friendly sexual and reproductive health services, and prioritise meaningful youth participation in 11 Southern African Countries (Angola, Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe). Implementing partners in Zambia include Africa Trust (SAT) and the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Arts.
