Founded in October 2002, Youth Against AIDS Organization (YAGAO) is a fast growing youth non-governmental organization (NGO) registered under the National Youth Council of Malawi Act of 1996 (Registration # 2004/SR/004) based and operating in Mangochi district in Southern Malawi. It is the only youth NGO in the district. The organization is in the process of changing its name to Youth Against All Odds to reflect its current programming
Its major strategic program areas include but not limited to health, HIV/AIDS, food security, gender and human rights. On HIV and AIDS, its overall goal is to facilitate a behavioral change, care and support, advocacy and participatory process impacting on the communities’ high-risk groups and restoring the human dignity in the process minimizing the number of new infections. YAGAO works to promote child rights, promote youth, and girl child participation in all issues of national development
Since inception, the organization has carried out many programs ranging from food security, human rights, HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment, care and support with support, both financially, materially and otherwise from diverse stakeholders. In particular, YAGAO has implemented projects with funding from UNICEF (in kind), National AIDS Commission (NAC) through Save the Children US (SCUS), and the National Youth Council of Malawi (NYCOM). Currently, the organization is implementing a 2-Year US$150,000.00 project funded by the WK Kellogg Foundation of the United States of America.
The capacity of YAGAO to implement project to the highest standards is demonstrated through the following:
1. Our Board of Trustees
As provided for in Article 8 of our constitution, the composition of the Board of Trustees is carefully blended with members from within and around the communities we serve. This has proved and continues to be helpful in the Board’s oversight role. The faith, local leadership, youth, and business communities, and the community at large are represented. With this mix of people from different professional background and social orientation, the Board has provided and continues to provide the most unparalleled strategic direction and oversight to the organization.
2.Our Executive Management Team
Through the years, YAGAO has managed to develop its on human resource base of highly motivated, results oriented and proactive young men and women (gender mainstreaming) to manage the secretariat.
The team is the best combination of professionals with the edge-cutting skills, knowledge and progressive experience in managing both the NGO and grants. It is because of this blend of expertise that has seen more donors coming to assist the organizations in its various programs either financially, materially and otherwise.
3.Partnerships
YAGAO believes in partnerships. The organization incorporates all the various players implementing HIV/AIDS, youth and education and other civil society activities in Mangochi district and partner with all the relevant district level government departments of Youth, Health, Social Welfare, Education, etc. Collaboration with these institutions shall enhance project success through the provision of information on the sectors. Linkages with all community structures such Area Development Committees (ADC), Village Development Committees (VDC), local leaders, will be harnessed thereby increasing sustainability of the project. Organizations like NGOs, CBOs FBOs will continue to be involved so as to avoid duplication of efforts while bringing out the best of interventions.
So far the youth NGO has earned itself the following reputation:
a.Delivers and satisfies the requirements of contracts/grants and expectations as set out in the work plan
b.Embodies professional standards that meet donors’ and stakeholders’ expectations: Value–Added
c.Brings a focus to programming priorities and cross–cutting themes (e.g. Poverty, HIV/AIDS, Gender and Human Rights)
d.Clearly and concisely articulates results to facilitate understanding by key audiences.
