I noticed that very few young men visited clinics. Many believed these spaces were only meant for women and children. I see on a daily basis that men avoid seeking healthcare because they fear being judged.
For young fathers in my community, this can have serious consequences. Harmful expectations about what it means to be a man can make it difficult to ask for help, talk about health, or admit when you are struggling. Sometimes, what a young father needs most is simply to feel heard or to have a safe space where he can speak openly without being judged. Sometimes he just needs to be seen.
My name is Dlamini Thabiso. I am a 21-year-old Peer Supporter with the READY+ Programme in the Lubombo region of Eswatini. Through my work, I support adolescent and young men aged 18 to 29 who are living with HIV, with a particular focus on making sure young fathers are not left out of conversations about sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), HIV, parenting, mental health, and well-being.
My journey with READY+ began in 2025, following my involvement in a community outreach programme led by Save the Children. I initially worked as a Champion focused on preventing early child marriage and teenage pregnancy. Through this work, I began to notice a recurring gap: many interventions were focused on women and girls, while young men, especially young fathers, were often overlooked.
That realisation moved me and became the driving force behind my commitment to ensuring that young fathers receive the information, support, and encouragement they need to take responsibility for their health, their relationships and their children.
[From left to right: Thabiso with young men from his community; A session from the Young Fathers Support Group]
As part of my work as a Peer Supporter, I started facilitating "Men's Corner", dialogue sessions where young fathers can openly discuss fatherhood, relationships, HIV, mental health, gender-based violence, and responsible decision-making.
These conversations taught me an important lesson: supporting young men is not about lecturing them or telling them what they are doing wrong. It is about listening, showing respect, and creating an enabling environment where they feel safe enough to be honest and vulnerable without fear of judgment.
One particular experience stayed with me, and it was about a young 23-year-old father who tested positive for HIV and later stopped attending his clinic appointments shortly afterwards. He believed clinics were only for women and babies, and he was afraid of being judged. I reached out to him and invited him to join a Young Fathers Support Group. At first he barely spoke. He simply listened.
But after two months, things began to slowly change. He restarted his HIV treatment, opened up to people about his HIV status, and became actively involved in caring for his child. He began by taking his baby for immunisation visits. Eventually, he stood in front of the group and encouraged other young fathers to take responsibility and prioritise their health.
For me, this is the power of peer support. No one is looking to be lectured or scolded. Sometimes all people need is a listening ear and an understanding mind. Sometimes we can change perceptions, one conversation at a time.
Through these sessions, I have seen that more young fathers are now accessing HIV testing and treatment services, supporting their partners during pregnancy, participating in antenatal visits, discussing family planning, and becoming more involved in raising their children.
These changes are also helping challenge the idea that SRHR is only relevant to women. Young fathers play an important role in their families and communities, and they, too, need support to do so with confidence.
My journey with READY+ has also changed me. I have developed greater patience, empathy, and communication skills, while gaining practical experience in peer counselling, group facilitation, male sexual and reproductive health, HIV treatment literacy, parenting education, and more.
But perhaps the most important thing I have learned is the value of simply being there for someone. To be that shoulder or the ear someone didn’t know they needed.
I want young fathers to know that asking for help is not a weakness. Do not be afraid or shy to seek support when you need it. Healthcare is for everyone regardless of their gender.
When young fathers have the knowledge, confidence, and support to take care of their health and their families, they can break cycles of stigma and create healthier families and stronger communities, built on love and acceptance. That is the kind of change I want to be part of. A change where every young person thrives.