Laapeng Strengthens Youth HIV Prevention 

The Laapeng Foundation, a community-based organisation working in the Ehlanzeni District, Mpumalanga, is expanding its efforts to support young people through its role as an implementing partner of NACOSA’s My Journey programme, funded by the Global Fund. 

Established in 2005 with a focus on youth development, HIV prevention and awareness, and the prevention of substance use, the organisation works closely with communities to provide programmes that provides young people with knowledge, services, and support to help them make informed choices about the health and future.  

My Journey supports 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 the programme prioritises adolescent girls and young women who are most at risk of HIV, it does not exclude boys and young men. Instead, it focuses resources on those most vulnerable while still promoting broader youth health and wellbeing. 

As South Africa’s largest national youth programme, My Journey combines national reach with strong local impact by working with community-based organisations such as Laapeng Foundation. The organisation provides youth-friendly safe spaces where adolescent girls and young women can access care without judgement or discrimination. 

Laapeng also runs She Shines Forward, a programme that empowers young women by building confidence, developing practical skills, and creating pathways to education, employment, and opportunity. 

Laapeng Foundation remains committed to delivering community-focused programmes that address both substance use prevention and HIV prevention. By working with partners, finding new ways to engage communities, and using digital platforms, the Foundation continues to build communities that are informed, confident, and better able to take charge of their health,” says Rassie Moiman, Laapeng Foundation’s CEO.

The organisation’s work is especially important in Mpumalanga, where HIV prevention and testing remain key priorities. The Ehlanzeni District has a large number of people living with HIV. There is also concern about teenage pregnancy, which is often driven by poverty, gender-based violence (GBV), and alcohol abuse. Mpumalanga recorded 9,754 deliveries by teenage mothers, including girls as young as 14 to 16 years old in 2025. 

Laapeng Foundation, through its partnership with NACOSA and the My Journey programme, is helping to strengthen HIV prevention efforts in the Ehlanzeni District by bringing services closer to communities and creating safe spaces for young people to access information and care so that they can make informed choices. 

Find out more at Laapeng.co.za