Empowering futures through health and skills

In Malawi – a country with one of the highest HIV infection rates worldwide – adolescents living with HIV face significant barriers to accessing vocational training and employment. Their challenges go way beyond physical health: their psychophysical condition and the lack of financial means lead to meagre school attendance. In addition, due to social stigma their adherence to medication remains low, hindering them from realising their full potential, participating in the labour market and achieving social mobility.  

Partners in Health/APZU, in collaboration with the Julius Baer Foundation, leverages a holistic approach to break the vicious cycle between HIV and wealth inequality. Their ASPIRE project, launched in 2022, focuses on redesigning the curriculum for adolescent health centres: not only are the adolescents empowered through proper medical care, but also through mental coaching, vocational skills, career guidance and job opportunities. 

19 year-old Patrick Francis is one of them: after he was trained in tailoring, Patrick received a starter-up package of tools to help him launch his own activity. Not only is his business thriving, but his community is also enjoying his tailoring services instead of having to walk miles to reach the nearest tailor. Patrick is now able to build a better life for himself, take care of his family and contribute to developing a stronger society.

Partners in Health is working to ensure that the redesigned curriculum is introduced in all fourteen health facilities in the district of Neno.

Watch the video and see how a lifesaving programme can also lead to employment opportunities and wealth creation and click here to learn more about the project.