Introducing myself and my journal: Dream Alive

About Me:
My Name is Aji Rachael Robinson, mother of four kid, 2 girls, 2 boys. Been married to Charles Robinson for 12yrs. I founded Heal the Youth Foundation, since 2003, we began trying to prevent the issues teenage pregnancy and give education to the girl child and help them make well informed decisions in regards their reproductive health choices.

HTYF has over the years given pep talks on informal and formal educational, civic right and responsibility and health programs to encourage young people to adopt behavioral change and engage in active civic awareness to help them participate in the development of their communities and also encourage healthy behaviors through our behavioral communication change programs .
These programs are implemented to also encourage young people abstain from early sexual debut. These programs were born out of great concern for the growing number of teenage pregnancies among school age girls and growing number of girls and boys who were infected with and or suffering from STI’S, VVF and HIV &AIDS In the local communities of Jos South LGA of Plateau State , as been reported most times on TV and radio stations

The need for an intervention coupled with high demand for awareness talks, led to the birth of the initiative “ having empowerment for actual living “ (HEAL PROJECT 2003) Which latter metamorphosed to becoming HEAL THE YOUTH FOUNDATION that was duly registered with the corporate affairs commission on the 26th April 2005 with registration number CAC/IT/NO 18565

The founder, who herself suffered abandonment as a result of youth related pregnancies, and also lost a cousin to, related issues such as teenage pregnancy and unsafe abortion, was motivated to start a project that ensure young girls and boys know the consequences of engaging in unprotected casual sex at an early age, and also be aware and well informed of their roles, responsibility and rights to make informed decisions.

Over the years HTYF has offered to young people sexual reproductive health and right (SRHR)services, HIV/AIDS prevention services, Teenage pregnancy intervention programs in youth friendly settings, churches, picnic and camping events where reproductive health issues and rights ranging from Menarche’, personal hygiene, prevention techniques for girls in violent situation, rape, are well taught. Our in-house volunteers, medical personnel and other professionals are involved as facilitators. These in-house professionals and parents, also include members and leaders drawn from communities where programs are been implemented.

Ten year down the road we have implemented Global Fund project 9 Prevention from Mother to Child Transmission of HIV/AIDS(PMTCT) that addresses pregnant women vulnerability as regard to women living with HIV in communities and set up women support groups in 25 wards of 5 LGA in 2012. Today we are implementing Project with Save the Children International in addressing the issues of vulnerable children using the Household approach.

My Challenges:
Many but lack of adequate financial resource to implement programs

My Vision for the Future:
Creating opportunities that empowers vulnerable groups to actualize life's potentials, vision and goals through the development of sustainable creative skills and initiatives

My Areas of Expertise:
Project Management, proposal writing