Tiyani Hahlani

The Sista2Sista Programme, an adolescent sexual and reproductive health education initiative, is being implemented in Ward 1, Chief Mabika Matsayi area of Bikita District, targeting out-of-school adolescent girls and young women aged between 15 and 24.

The programme is being implemented under the mentorship of National AIDS Council (NAC) mentor Tavonga Makotore as part of Grant Cycle 7 (2024–2026).

Sista2Sista reaches at least 900 adolescent girls and young women annually and provides access to HIV Testing Services.

Participants also access health services that include Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP), family planning, antenatal care, cervical cancer screening and screening for sexually transmitted infections.

The programme has 18 trained community mentors, each recruiting two groups of 25 adolescent girls and young women and facilitating up to 40 sessions per year using the Sista2Sista manual.

In Ward 1, Makotore mentors a group of 50 girls drawn from the ward and surrounding areas.

“The programme started when most of these girls were involved in risky behaviours such as excessive alcohol consumption and transactional sex which they do with cotton farmers when they sell their products.

“Since joining Sista2Sista groups, there has been a notable change in behaviour, attitude and lifestyle of the girls in the area,” said Makotore.

In addition to Sista2Sista, some participants are enrolled in the Determined, Resilient, Empowered, AIDS-free, Mentored and Safe (DREAMS) programme.

Through DREAMS, some girls are receiving support to return to school, while others are being assisted with income-generating activities.

The programme also incorporates an Internal Savings and Lending Scheme (ISALS), a social protection component aimed at strengthening livelihoods.

Through ISALS, participants receive financial literacy training, which they share with other group members at ward level.

Using pooled savings and internal lending, the group has purchased 27 goats. A smaller group of nine members collectively contributed to acquire three goats per person.

“Through the Sista2Sista programme, the girls have been taught on how they can save, plan and work together.

“As a group we also have a target of buying cows as part of the ISALS and also start a fishing project so that they can further strengthen their livelihoods and become self-reliant,” said Makotore.

The group has identified challenges, including the need for a secure goat pen, as the current structure is unsafe.

They are also seeking support to acquire Boer and Kalahari goat breeds to improve productivity, as well as assistance with drilling a borehole to support livestock and farming activities.

The Sista2Sista Programme continues to operate in Ward 1 of Bikita District under the Chief Mabika Matsayi area.