Introduction and Background
YONECO is a local, non-political, non-profit, non-governmental organization that was formed in September 1997 to address the social injustice, human rights, child delinquency and reproductive health issues affecting youth, women and children in Malawi.
Starting as a small community-based youth organization, YONECO currently is one of the strongest organizations working on issues of youth, children and women’s development in Malawi. Arising from the growing HIV pandemic in Malawi, YONECO’s vision is to ‘establish a self reliant HIV and AIDS free society that respects democratic values and principles’. YONECO’s mission is committed to empowering youth, woman and children; preventing the spread of HIV infection; mitigating the impact of AIDS; and promoting democracy and human rights for socio-economic development. In achieving its objectives YONECO upholds the values of respect for human dignity, confidentiality, integrity, team spirit, transparency and accountability.
Objectives
- To promote positive youth, women and child development through counselling, life skills, leadership and entrepreneurship
- To safeguard, promote and protect human rights with particular reference to the rights of youth, women and children
- To conduct civic education on HIV and AIDS, human rights, gender, democracy, and good governance among the general population
- To enhance youth, women and children participation in democratization process and socio – economic development of the Nation
- To provide social and economic support services for abused and victimized women and children at community level
- To provide care and support to those affected and infected with HIV/AIDS including people living with HIV/AIDS and orphans
- To provide networking and collaboration services locally and internationally on youth, women and children
Programme Areas
The role of YONECO is that of an implementer where implementing structures do not exist and facilitator where community implementing structures exist. The emphasis on either more so dependent on the areas of operations. YONECO’s focus areas are stratified into four service programmes:
1. Youth Development
2. Women and Children,
3. Care and Support
4. Human Rights and Democracy
YONECO Technical Experience in Project Management
Youth Net and Counselling (YONECO) has implemented a number of initiatives on HIV/AIDS, human rights, youth development and life skills interventions among others for behavioural change at various levels that have included the following:
- Taking up an overarching role, YONECO has initiated a national network for youth NGO’s by founding the Forum for NGOs in Youth Development (FONYODE) in Malawi
- Building of ‘safe schools’ through doorways of adolescent life skills development. By improving capacity of teachers, peer leaders strengthening the resilience and self-efficacy of students to contribute towards the reduction of School Related Gender Based Violence (SRGBV)
- YONECO established a toll free child helpline in Malawi to cater for various questions that range from sex and sexuality, child abuse, violence against children, children in conflict with the law, child molestation, child rights among others and is currently a member of the Child Helpline International (CHI) and YONECO is currently a member of the CHI board as a Regional representative of all child helplines in Africa
- A programme for life skills and economic empowerment for behaviour change among young people, teen mothers and sex workers
- Development of programmes on child domestic workers providing them with life skills and counselling sessions to help them make informed decisions
In combating the spread of HIV/AIDS YONECO has been elected the secretariat for the Pan-African commonwealth Civil Society Network on HIV/AIDS for the African Region from 2008 - 2010. Youth Net and Counseling (YONECO) with financial support from various partners has thus been recognized as an influential local organization in Malawi working with youth, women and children at community levels partnering with and funded by organizations such as UNICEF, UNDEF, UNFPA, WHO, HIVOS, Comic Relief, USAID, the Scottish Government among numerous others. Based on common goals, beliefs and interests YONECO seeks out all means in dedicating to holistically support youth, women and children.
Contact details:
Youth Net and Counselling (YONECO)
Executive Director: Mac Bain Mkandawire
Kazembe Location
Near Likangala Secondary School
P.O. Box 471
Zomba
Malawi
Tel: 265 (0) 1 525 674
Mobile 1: 265 (0) 8 958 726
Mobile 2: 265 (0) 9 953 542
Fax: 265 (0) 1 525 560
Email 1: mhjmkandawire@sdnp.org.mw
Email 2: director@yoneco.org.mw
Website: www.yoneco.org.mw
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