By Baraka John
A nine-month sexual and reproductive health and rights project aimed at empowering adolescent schoolgirls in Yambio with accurate information on family planning and their rights has been launched to help girls make informed decisions about their health, education and future.
The project, dubbed “Safe Choices, Strong Voices: Advancing Girls’ Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) in Yambio,” is being implemented by Hope for Women and Youth South Sudan, with funding from SIHA, the Strategic Initiative for Women in the Horn of Africa.
The project targets primary school girls aged 10 to 19 and seeks to address challenges that can affect their education, including unintended pregnancies, limited access to accurate sexual and reproductive health information, and other barriers to completing school.
According to Hope for Women and Youth South Sudan Executive Director Christine Faida, the initiative seeks to empower women and young people to understand and realize their rights, live free from violence and participate meaningfully in peacebuilding and the development of inclusive and resilient communities.
Faida said the nine-month intervention will provide adolescent girls with accurate and age-appropriate information on family planning methods, sexual and reproductive health and their rights.
She said the initiative is expected to help girls understand available family planning options and make informed decisions that can reduce the risk of unintended pregnancies and help them remain in school.
“The Safe Choices, Strong Voices project targets adolescent girls aged 10 to 19, as well as out-of-school women of reproductive age. The project began in June and will run until February 2027. We have planned several key activities targeting these groups”.
The Western Equatoria State Ministry of Health said the project will help girls understand available family planning options and make informed decisions that can reduce the risk of unintended pregnancies and help them remain in school.
She commended the initiative and expressed support for its implementation.
“You should not limit our outreach to only those schools. When activities are conducted in one school, you should also consider inviting girls from nearby schools so they can benefit from the sessions. This will help us reach more girls and ensure that the project’s activities have a wider impact.”
Meanwhile, SIHA focal person in Yambio, Hozana John Mabu, said the project will emphasize strengthening girls’ confidence, resilience and ability to participate in decisions affecting their lives.
Mabu said the initiative comes at a time when adolescent girls face several barriers to completing their education, with early and unintended pregnancies being among the factors that can contribute to school dropout.
Amida Cosmas Tunga, a 13-year-old Primary Seven pupil at ABC Academy who attended the launch, encouraged fellow schoolgirls to avoid negative peer influence and remain focused on their education.
Tunga said negative peer groups can influence schoolgirls to enter relationships before they are ready or before they achieve their educational goals.
“Say no to inappropriate touches because they can put your safety and future at risk. Inappropriate touches include intentionally touching sensitive parts of someone’s body, such as the breasts, thighs, waist or buttocks”.
Through community engagement and awareness activities, the project is also expected to encourage parents, teachers, community leaders and young people to support girls’ education and promote access to reliable and age-appropriate sexual and reproductive health information.