MPT partners BPF for a third year running

Expanding inclusive access to HIV/AIDS education and support through sports and community engagement

Following two years of successfully implementing the Achinyamata Tikambilane (Youth Discuss) program in Lilongwe, which positively impacted 2,735 participants (60% female), The Mercury Phoenix Trust (MPT) and Bhubesi Pride Foundation (BPF) are extending their partnership. Over the next 18 months (May 2025 – October 2026), we aim to increase access to HIV/AIDS-related information for over 5,000 young people with and without disabilities.

This program extension will focus on ensuring adolescents and young mothers access HIV/AIDS-related information and services, so that no one is left behind. Additionally, the partnership will support young women and girls in secondary schools, universities and those out of school, by providing them with sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) prevention and response information mechanisms. This aims to empower young people, with knowledge of their rights, and enable them to make informed decisions regarding relationships with “sugar daddies/mummies” (older partners), while protecting them from online predators who seek to exploit young women and girls.

The next phase of collaboration between MPT and BPF involves developing a sport for development manual that will incorporate HIV/AIDS information.

This ongoing partnership is a testament to the successful implementation and impact of the collaboration between BPF and the Youth Forum for National Transformation (YOFONAT). Such localised partnerships are crucial.

What our partner says…

“The Mercury Phoenix Trust is proud to partner with BPF for another year to bring much needed HIV/AIDS education and prevention awareness. Having already developed a successful program that combines sport with education means that many more youngsters will have access to accurate and up to date information. In addition, in and out of school young women will be equipped with vital guidance on how to protect themselves and recognise risky and potentially life-threatening behaviour from others. This is an important project which supports and encourages young people to grow into healthy and confident young adults and the MPT is pleased to support BPF in its endeavours to do so.”

Mrs Janice Page, MPT Grants Manager