Strengthening Livelihoods and HIV Prevention Through Community Study Circles in Mzokoto

At LICO, we understand that HIV prevention goes beyond access to health information and medical services. Many communities continue to face underlying social and economic challenges that increase vulnerability to HIV, including poverty, food insecurity, unemployment, and limited livelihood opportunities for women and young people. When households struggle to meet basic needs, it becomes more difficult for individuals to make safe and healthy choices, consistently access services, and plan for a secure future.

In Mzokoto community, we identified these interconnected challenges through engagement with local leaders, families, and community groups. While awareness of HIV prevention has improved over the years, many households still face economic hardships that weaken resilience. Women in particular often carry the burden of caring for families while having fewer opportunities to earn sustainable incomes.

To respond to these realities, Life Concern is implementing the Enhancing HIV Prevention and Community Health Project, with support from the Blood:Water Foundation. The project combines HIV information dissemination, community health promotion, and economic empowerment to create practical and lasting solutions for vulnerable households.

One of the key approaches is the establishment and strengthening of community study circles. We have established 10 study circle groups, each with 15 members, reaching a total of 150 participants across the area. The groups were strategically formed with one study circle in each Village Development Committee to ensure broad community coverage and inclusive participation.

To support quality facilitation and sustainability, Life Concern has also trained 15 peer educators who are leading discussions and mentoring group members. These peer educators play a critical role in guiding sessions on HIV prevention, sexual and reproductive health, gender equality, stigma reduction, and positive behaviour change.

The study circles provide a safe and organized platform where women and men meet regularly to learn, share experiences, and identify local solutions to community challenges. Through dialogue, peer learning, and collective action, members are strengthening both knowledge and confidence to make informed health and livelihood decisions.

Beyond health education, many study circle groups in Mzokoto are now engaging in agribusiness initiatives such as crop production, irrigation farming, poultry keeping, and other income-generating activities. These initiatives are enabling members to use locally available resources to improve productivity, generate household income, and strengthen food security.

The impact is already visible. Families involved in the groups are gaining access to nutritious food from their farming activities, reducing vulnerability caused by hunger and poverty. Members are also earning income that can be used for school fees, healthcare, household needs, and reinvestment into their businesses. For women especially, participation in agribusiness is increasing confidence, leadership, and decision-making power within households and communities.

Importantly, economic empowerment also strengthens HIV prevention outcomes. When people have stronger livelihoods and more stable incomes, they are less exposed to risky coping strategies driven by poverty. They are better positioned to access health services, adhere to treatment, support their families, and participate in community wellbeing initiatives.

The study circles are also strengthening social cohesion. Group members support one another, solve problems together, and encourage positive behaviour change. This collective approach helps reduce stigma, promotes inclusion, and builds stronger community networks around health and development.

At Life Concern, we believe sustainable change happens when communities are empowered to lead their own progress. The progress in Mzokoto demonstrates that combining HIV prevention with livelihood development can create deeper and longer-lasting impact than addressing these issues separately.

Through the support from Blood:Water Foundation, we are seeing how integrated community-led solutions can transform lives.