The Laapeng Foundation, a community-based organisation in Mpumalanga’s Ehlanzeni District, is expanding its youth-focused efforts as an implementing partner of NACOSA’s My Journey programme, funded by the Global Fund. Founded in 2005, Laapeng has long worked on youth development, HIV prevention and awareness, and substance use prevention, providing young people with knowledge, services, and support to make informed decisions about their health and future.
The My Journey programme empowers adolescent girls and young women to take charge of their health and wellbeing by providing HIV prevention options and wellness services within their communities. While prioritising those most at risk, the programme also engages boys and young men to promote broader youth health outcomes. Through partnerships with local organisations like Laapeng, My Journey combines national reach with strong community-level impact, offering youth-friendly safe spaces where adolescents can access care without fear of stigma or discrimination.
Laapeng also runs the She Shines Forward programme, which empowers young women by building confidence, developing practical skills, and creating pathways to education, employment, and opportunity. The Foundation continues to innovate through partnerships, community engagement, and digital platforms, strengthening informed and confident communities that can take charge of their health.
The organisation’s work is especially critical in Mpumalanga, where HIV prevention and testing remain high priorities. The Ehlanzeni District faces significant challenges, including high numbers of people living with HIV and teenage pregnancies, often linked to poverty, gender-based violence, and alcohol abuse. In 2025, Mpumalanga recorded 9,754 deliveries among teenage mothers, including girls as young as 14 to 16 years old.
Through its partnership with NACOSA and the My Journey programme, Laapeng Foundation is helping to bring HIV prevention services closer to communities, creating safe spaces for young people to access information and care, and supporting informed decision-making to improve health outcomes for youth in the Ehlanzeni District.
