Project Purpose:The overall aim of OneLife 3 is to build capacity and raise awareness of 5215 youths between the ages of 12 to 18 years and caregivers including teachers, PTA Executives, Schools Welfare Officers and parents on the issues of gender based violence (GBV) and its relations to HIV/AIDS in an effort to prevent and reduce violence against women and girls over an eighteen (18) months period.  These target groups will be identified from thirteen (13) secondary schools where there are high levels of violence, 8 in Region 4 (Georgetown), 3 in Region 3 and 2 in Region 10.  Students to be trained as Youth Advocates/Mentors (YAMs) will be identified from Forms 2 and 3 to further strengthen the sustainability of the initiative as those students are likely to remain in the schools for at least another 2/3 years.  The overall impact of this initiative is intended to reduce the spread of HIV/AIDS by addressing issues related to gender discrimination, sexual and reproductive health, communication, conflicts, anger management and male/female relationships within the family and community.

Key Project Activities  

• Train youth advocates/mentors (YAMs) to promote a more youth friendly-school free from violence across three regions in Guyana
• Sensitize in 13 secondary schools about issues relating to gender based violence and HIV/AIDS.
• Capacity building training for four core groups of 65 youths from 13 secondary schools in Regions 3 – West Coast and West Bank Demerara, Region 4 –Georgetown, and Region 10 – Linden to become youth advocates and mentors (YAMs) for changes relating to GBV within their homes, schools and communities.
• Provision of psychosocial support/counselling for 300 youths and their families where necessary, particularly those from dysfunctional families, and affected by domestic violence, child abuse or other issues reacted to sexual and reproductive health such as HIV/AIDS.
• Train 200 teachers, PTA executives, and Schools Welfare Officers in the areas of gender based violence, conflict resolution and anger management and cascade the information in other wider PTA meetings.
• Train 161 teachers in the areas of classroom management to encourage non-violent behaviours and resolve issues in the classroom without the use of violence.