Within the framework of the Safeguarding Youth Programme (SYP), a delegation from Angola visited Namibia from 11 to 18 August 2024 with the aim of exchanging experiences on supporting adolescents and young people in comprehensive sexual education issues, with an emphasis on shared border areas.

The initiative sought to strengthen practices and policies to improve young people's access to health services, with a focus on HIV prevention, reducing early pregnancy and promoting gender equality.

During the exchange, the Angolan delegation visited primary and secondary schools, hospitals and multipurpose youth centres along the border, which are frequented by some Angolan nationals. 

Namibia, unlike other countries that use the term Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE), opted to change it to ‘Life Skills’ due to resistance from parents, cultural and religious organisations, who interpreted it as encouraging sexual activity.

The results of the visit will be documented in a report, which will be analysed and can serve as a basis for improving new policies in Angola to enable adolescents and young people to make informed and responsible choices and reach their full potential.

Angolan and Namibian young people jointly celebrate International Youth Day

To commemorate 12 August, International Youth Day, 17 young people from the municipality of Namacunde, Cunene province, crossed the border from Santa Clara to Oshikango, where, together with young people from this region of Namibia, they reflected on and celebrated the event alongside the authorities of the central governments of Angola and Namibia, civil society and senior officials from UNFPA Angola and Namibia.

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@Text and photo: Dorivaldo Caetano, Social Media Associate