READY

READY is a portfolio of programmes which are designed to build Resilient and Empowered Adolescents and Young people (READY). We know this is vital because HIV is the second largest cause of death of adolescents globally, and the first in Africa.

READY programmes can be found across sub-Saharan Africa in Angola, Eswatini, Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. Through integrating peer supporters in health service delivery, ensuring access to HIV, mental health, and sexual and reproductive health information and services, and supporting young people to advocate for their needs, we know that young people can stay healthy.

Youth designed and youth centred, the READY portfolio of programmes is grounded on the principles of inclusion, equality and diversity thus recognising young people’s diverse needs for agile and innovative engagement.

As a result of innovative partnerships, we have reached over 36,000 adolescents and young people. But there is much more that we can do.

The READY movement

Young people all over the world can join the READY movement to demand their right to a healthy life, whatever their circumstances, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression. Young people helped create the READY movement in order to expand our READY portfolio. Today, they remain at its core.

The READY movement is led by the Global Network of Young People living with HIV (Y+ Global), with support from Frontline AIDS and its partners.

Join the READY movement on social media and read our newsletter to keep up to date with our latest activities.

READY programmes

All READY programmes place adolescents and young people in their diversity at the centre of design, delivery, monitoring and evaluation.

READY+

READY+ is part of a portfolio of programmes designed to build Resilient and Empowered Adolescents and Young people (READY).

The first phase of the four year programme (2016-2020) worked with and for over 27,000 adolescents and young people living with HIV in Mozambique, eSwatini, Tanzania and Zimbabwe. Its focus was on increasing access to holistic care and support: promoting not only sexual and reproductive health and rights but also mental health in order to foster resilience.

The programme will continue to build on this work during phase two, expanding its reach into Angola, Malawi and Zambia, and increasing focus on youth-centred action on gender norms transformation, advocacy and movement building.

A day in the life of a CATS

Ntsiki is a Community Adolescent Treatment Supporter (CATS) providing peer-to-peer information, counselling and support to adolescents and young people living with HIV in Swaziland. Watch her video above to find out what her day is like.

Our partners

READY+ is funded by the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Maputo, and led by Frontline AIDS in partnership with Y+ Global, AFRICAID/Zvandiri, Coordinating Assembly of NGOs in eSwatini (CANGO), Paediatric – Adolescent Treatment Africa (PATA), and the Regional Psychosocial Support Initiative (REPSSI).

READY for an AIDS free future

READY for an AIDS Free Future aims to provide HIV testing, treatment and access to sexual and reproductive health services for adolescents and young people who are marginalised and at highest risk of getting HIV in Mozambique.

Lack of access to HIV testing services stops young people from knowing their HIV status and delays lifesaving treatment for those who are positive. In addition, young key populations face more challenges in accessing sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services, treatment and commodities. But with the right information and regular testing, young people who are negative can stay negative.

In the READY for an AIDS Free Future programme young people who receive a positive result, will get support to start treatment and receive psychosocial support to promote better treatment adherence and emotional wellbeing. We will also link young people to SRH commodities and treatment options to further improve their health outcomes.

Building on the successful Community Adolescent Treatment Supporters initiative in our READY+ programme, where peer supporters are integrated into government health facilities, young people living with HIV will get the support they need to stay healthy and live positively.

We will focus on:

Improving treatment adherence;
Encouraging better mental health;
Providing access to SRH information to make safe and informed choices about their sexual health

Aligning with global and national HIV targets set for adolescents, the project will contribute to reducing the number of new infections and AIDS-related deaths among adolescents and young people who are most affected by HIV.

READY for an AIDS free future is funded by the Elton John AIDS Foundation and led by Frontline AIDS in partnership with Africaid-Zvandiri, AMODEFA, and the Regional Psychosocial Support Initiative (REPSSI).

Skills2Live

We’re helping to empower young people in Mozambique and Zimbabwe to reach their full potential and lead healthy lives through economic empowerment and access to life changing HIV/SRHR information.

Skills2Live aims to reach at least 1,300 young people most affected by HIV by providing access to vocational and educational opportunities, including those that challenge gender norms, and provide a foundation for fulfilling and healthy lives.

Skills2Live is a consortium between Young Africa International, Young Africa Zimbabwe and Young Africa Mozambique, Frontline AIDS, IdeiaLab, International Organization of Migration (IOM). It is funded by the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Mozambique.

Previous READY programmes

READY to Lead strengthened the leadership and advocacy skills of 100 young female peer supporters in Zimbabwe. The programme focused on the power of young women and adolescent girls to become effective leaders in the community and to influence key HIV and SRHR policies and budgets. In turn, the women became mentors and role models to other young women.

READY to Lead was funded by Comic Relief and implemented by Frontline AIDS, Zimbabwe Young Positives (ZY+) and ATHENA.

The READY Fellowship built the advocacy and leadership skills of young people living with HIV. Members of the Y+ Global Board took part in an intensive six-month training programme, working with the Global Network of People Living with HIV (GNP+) and Frontline AIDS.

i-READY supported and created information and communication technology (ICT) tools that could be used by adolescents and young people in Burundi and Mozambique to promote access to information on SRHR, peer support and adherence to HIV treatment. Supported by the SPIDER centre, adolescents and young people devise innovative ICT solutions, based on their needs.

READY Teens provided comprehensive SRHR services and built the capacity of youth leaders who create safe spaces for adolescents from marginalised groups in Burundi, Ethiopia and Uganda. Adolescents aged 10-19 learnt about HIV and SRHR and developed their skills so that they could make healthier choices. In just two years, READY Teens reached over 15,000 adolescents with comprehensive SRHR information and services.

READY Teens was implemented by former Alliance Linking Organisations Alliance Burundaise contre le SIDA (ABS), Community Health Alliance Uganda (CHAU) and Organisation for Social Services, Health and Development (OSSHD) and their youth partners in Burundi, Uganda and Ethiopia