By: Naemi Shitalangaho

Determined, Resilient, Empowered, AIDS-Free, Mentored and Safe (Dreams)/ Twagamenwa that means (we are safe) is a programme under Project Hope Namibia and funded by ( United State Agency for International Development) USAID. Their aim is to prevent HIV in Adolescent Girls and Young Women (AGYW) by empowering them with social protection ,provide them with education and shelter and teach them skill on how to be independent economically. They also work on reducing teenage pregnancy and gender-based violence.DREAMSNamibia #PEPFAR #USAID

Prevention is better than cure: Breams Girls have been using PrEP for more than 6 months to almost a year to prevent themselves from HIV.

Education: DREAMS-ACHIEVE has prepared their graduates for an after-school Early Childhood Development program at KAYEC Ondangwa, and they are presently conducting their internships at Ongwediva Multi-purpose Center,

Meeting up: Lisa Johnson, the United States Ambassador to Namibia, and Winnie Byanyima, the Executive Director of UNAIDS, met and talked with young women sponsored by the PEPFAR DREAMS initiative in the Khomas area in April 2021 to learn about their experiences. Ben Nangombe, Executive Director of the Ministry of Health and Social Services, greeted the group at Hakahana Clinic.

Ending Violence Against Women Now: The Oshana Region began commemorating the 16 days of protest against gender-based violence in Iindangungu, northern Namibia. Between January and October 2021, the Oshana area alone saw 55 occurrences of rape and 372 cases of domestic violence.

Bringing success: The DREAMS-ACHIEVE initiative has been able to establish links to practical-based vocational training courses at KAYEC Trust in Ondangwa, Oshana Region, thanks to financing from the US President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR).
On December 6, 2021, 14 young women and girls from the Oshana and Kavango East areas will get certifications in welding and metal fabrication, automobile mechanics, and early childhood development.

Bringing services closer: A DREAMS/ACHIEVE outreach team in Ondangwa (Gwashamba Mall), busy providing information about Condom advertising, Services for HIV testing, Services for Family Planning and Connections to PrEP-related services on January 2022.

All Pictures: contributed