Namibia-15 June 2009-(New Era) Namibia Women's Health Network will stage an important one-day AIDS workshop for members next Saturday at the Goreangab Dam outside the capital.

This was announced during an interview with two of the organization's committee members who started it in 2008 and registered the youth body with the Khomas Regional AIDS Committee.

"This will be our first pilot project financed by the Ford Foundation for the next two years. If successful, the project will be extended to other Southern African countries," said the co-founder and project officer of the organization, Veronica Kalambi.

The Namibian Women's Health Network has 1 500 members countrywide.

"The workshop next month will cover sexual reproduction issues and rights among the Namibian youth, AIDS and abortion. These are growing issues and concerns of the youth, especially the dumping of babies by mothers. It is our hope that these tendencies will be well addressed and will eventually decrease," said Foibe Haludilu, the project officer for Youth Economic Empowerment.

The workshop, to be presented by Unam students, will also cover illegal abortions.

"We have also started with self-employment opportunity creation efforts among the youth - such as cooking lessons with 15 such youths. Most of these youths have been trained to eventually start their own businesses such as food stalls and beauty salons," said Halidilu.

The workshop, to be followed by two others later this year, will encourage participants to document in writing their views and experiences on all social and health issues.

Veronica Kalambi said that the first graduates of some of their training will be awarded certificates confirming their ability to become trainers of trainers.

"I am very optimistic about our projects because it provides in the youths' needs as far as empowerment is concerned," Kalambi said.

Online at: http://allafrica.com/stories/200906120626.html