Standup4botsyouth!

The Issue

SOCOBA youth and young people are the unintended inheritors of the effects of the global AIDS pandemic. Intensifying this actuality are a number of prohibitive issues that stagnate social and economic growth, furthering education, and the ability to develop a vision and hope for a successful future.

Unemployment, unplanned or unwanted pregnancy, dormant social and economic plans, disease, and a major lack of awareness and resources of programs available to address these issues are just some of the circumstances SOCOBA young people face.

SOCOBA has recently conducted Community Consultative Meetings in July of 2019, in which primary and secondary students participated in a large school assembly and answered questions about their health, well-being, and future goals. Various students were selected to participate in smaller groups to discuss the challenges that they have faced and what improvements they hope to see in Mabule. The consensus was that the StandUp4BotsYouth! Program was exciting, promising and all participants were eager to get rolling.

Our Target

The aim of SU4BY! Is to connect adolescents with young people in Mabule to better enable each other to stabilize control of their health and wellbeing, to establish a support system outside the family unit, and to collaborate in creative endeavors that would better themselves, their families, and their community.

Young people in Mabule are acutely aware of the insurmountable issues they face, including scarce or non-existent resources and opportunity, extreme poverty, and vulnerability to disease and stigma. Fortifying relationships across different age groups, we believe, will serve as a mutual empowerment connection that may lead to leadership skills, entrepreneurial skills and opportunities, and potential income-generating pursuits. 

The program will place an emphasis on the inclusion of orphans, at-risk youth and young people, and those living with disabilities.