Activist Trevor Oahile Is Rewriting The Conversation on Sexual Health in Botswana

U.N. recognized youth activist Trevor Oahile talks about his hit radio show "Don't Get It Twisted," and changing attitudes regarding sexual health in Botswana.

It's worth mentioning that recently you were named one of the 500 most influential young Africans in southern Africa. For those who might not know, would you mind describing a little bit about yourself and your work?

The focus of most of my work is human rights advocacy, specifically in regards to sexual reproductive health and rights.

Throughout my eight years of volunteering, I have worked with both local and international organizations, such as the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF), Botswana’s Ministry of Health and Wellness, The National AIDS & Health Promotion Agency (NAHPA), SRHR AFRICA TRUST and Goals Afrika, among others.

Currently, I am the Chairperson of the African Youth Panel (AYP) Forum in Botswana, a non-profit organization that provides a platform for engagement and exchange among young people in Africa.

How would you describe the attitudes towards sex and sexuality in Botswana? And is there a marked difference between younger and older generations?

People in Botswana definitely need capacity building on issues related to gender and sex in order to effectively fight social problems like gender-based violence and discrimination.

You have a podcast called “Don’t Get It Twisted.” Can you tell us a little bit about it and how it came about?

I was part of the UNFPA youth advisory panel and was selected to host Don’t Get It Twisted on Yarona FM. Don’t Get It Twisted has now been running successfully for 5 years and young people of all ages -- both male and female – have praised the show for helping them to facilitate discussions about sexual reproductive health issues. The show has listenership in both the local community and in the Southern African Development Community (SADC)) region. It has been an amazing experience!

Finally, how can those reading support your work?

You can support my work through my Instagram.