Yodat

Yodat, officially known as the Youth Development & AIDS Trust, is a non-profit organization registered under the Deeds Office as a Trust in Zimbabwe, with registration number MA 878/2006. Based in Macheke, the organization is dedicated to empowering young people through participatory initiatives that address challenges such as high unemployment, increasing poverty, and HIV/AIDS infection rates among youth. Yodat operates with a commitment to internal democracy, allowing members and volunteers to actively engage in decision-making processes and community activities. The organization's programs focus on youth empowerment with an emphasis on livelihoods and skills development, democracy and governance, sexual reproductive health and rights (SRHR), and HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention. Notable initiatives include the "My Body My Rights" project, aimed at preventing teenage pregnancies and underage marriages through community dialogues and social media advocacy, and "The Macheke I Want," which leverages information and communication technology to integrate youth into local leadership structures and community development programs. Yodat's reputation is built on its commitment to involving young people in the design and implementation of programs that directly affect them. By fostering a participatory environment, the organization ensures that its initiatives are relevant and effective in addressing the specific needs of the youth in Macheke and surrounding areas. This approach has led to tangible outcomes, such as the distribution of sanitary pads to secondary school girls from underprivileged backgrounds, demonstrating Yodat's dedication to improving the well-being of young people in the community.