About ResponsibleMe

ResponsibleME (RME) has been working with schools and communities across South Africa since 2008, providing training and resources for educators and reaching learners, their families and communities.

Our holistic approach promotes successful, healthy and considered life choices around self-development, safe sexual behaviour, financial and digital inclusion, gender equality, the environment and effective communication.

More People, More Impact

We structure the monitoring and evaluation of our programs through the following methods:

Pre and post implementation KAP surveys with learners to review changes in Knowledge, Attitude and intended Practice
Telephonic support and monitoring of in-classroom lesson delivery
Workshop evaluation with educators on training workshop, program content, methodology and facilitator competence
Qualitative feedback from learners, educators and school management
Interviews and focus groups with learners, educators and school management
Impact assessment through stakeholder indicator analysis

Let's Take Action

Speak up and take action for our youth

Partner with us to create a lasting impact on the future leaders and changemakers in Africa.

Real impact

Learner Impact

83%

Learners said that after attending the lessons, they understood that girls can also carry condoms and think it’s a good thing

85%

Learners reported a willingness to encourage others to learn about HIV&AIDS

78%

Learners felt more confident to ask a partner to use a condom

81%

Learners felt more confident about taking an HIV test

90%

Learners felt more confident to say no to sex

The Moral Regeneration Movement

Initiated by former President Nelson Mandela in 2002, the movement aims to address moral decay and promote ethical values across the nation. The principles on which the movement is based are the ones that laid the foundation to create the ResponsibleME program.

The principles of Moral Regeneration are:

  • Ubuntu: emphasizing the interconnectedness of all people and promoting a sense of community and mutual respect
  • Ethical Leadership
  • Human Dignity
  • Social Justice
  • Respect for Diversity

Learner Impact

83%

Learners said that after attending the lessons, they understood that girls can also carry condoms and think it’s a good thing

85%

Learners reported a willingness to encourage others to learn about HIV&AIDS

78%

Learners felt more confident to ask a partner to use a condom

81%

Learners felt more confident about taking an HIV test

90%

Learners felt more confident to say no to sex

What we Learn

To use a condom. Get tested. You do not only get HIV by sex, you can get it on needles and cuts. HIV is not a death sentence. I must not feel negative if I am HIV positive but I must use treatment. I should not stigmatise others. (Parent)

Don’t wait until it’s too late to get tested. When you are on treatment, don’t stop taking it. Even if you and your partner are HIV positive and on treatment, keep using a condom because you can re-infect each other.

I have learned that HIV is not the end of the world, it is controllable, I can also get help from the clinic. It important to first accept your status before telling your family. We should also teach our children about HIV. (Parent)

I have learned more about the virus itself. How it spreads and how you get infected. I am happy to hear about the support system in the family because most people reject people living with HIV because of the stigma. (Parent)

How to disclose to my child my HIV status. To allow my child to disclose their HIV status and support them. If I am HIV positive, I should seek help and support from someone. (Parent)

How to disclose to my child my HIV status. To allow my child to disclose their HIV status and support them. If I am HIV positive, I should seek help and support from someone. (Parent)

I learnt that I should talk to my family about my condition so that they will be able to support me. And also the person I am involved with. (Parent)

I have learned that HIV is not the same as Aids; one should know her status and your partners one. I learned about how HIV is transmitted, how to teach our children at home about HIV and safe sex. (Parent)

Educational Impact

RME has a profound impact on the way our youth (particularly girls) view the world and themselves and the way they operate in it. Our job is to reinforce that messaging, and to make sure that they have the confidence and the skills to continue feeling in charge of their lives.

From the educator’s perspective, the response to the program has been excellent as evidenced by an overall workshop satisfaction rating of 94.5%, a 91.4% rating on content and 95.8% rating on facilitator knowledge and style. On a qualitative level, educators show an appreciation for the knowledge, skills and content required to train learners and the opportunity for them to share their own personal fears in a safe, open and informative environment.

Independent Impact Assessment for BHP Billiton Manganese

ResponsibleME is an excellent benchmark in the health-focus area. The design and the management of the programme ensures that the impact is far reaching with high business returns for BHP Billiton Metalloys South Africa.

It is important to note that the impact and return of this programme places it in the strategic category, whereas the impact achieved by the other programmes places them in a ‘charitable’ category. This is an important observation and learning as it indicates the vast differences between high impact and high return programmes.

It also gives a clear indication of how lower-scored programmes must be redesigned to increase impact and return. If BHP Billiton decides to have a donations-type portfolio, this is understandable as there will also be a need for such support. However, if the objective is to improve the quality of life as it pertains to the health of communities in the Sedibeng district then it is clear that these programmes need to be exited and new programmes either found through a public call for proposals (reactive funding) or BHP Billiton must design its own flagship programme. But having only one programme in the health portfolio at this point that delivers both high impact and high return is concerning as the impact on the quality of health of communities may not be sufficient.

Out of all the programmes funded – your programme yielded the highest community impact of all and is rated number one. Not only that, but in the health portfolio you also yielded the highest return for the company.

Riana Rossouw – Next Generation