Donor: Gates Foundation through IPPF EN
Year/Duration of implementation: 2019-2022
Beneficiaries: Young people 10-24 and Parents of Young People
Challenges/Gap that the project addressed (what is the problem): Young people have poor access to SRHR information and services leading to unsafe practices including unintended pregnancies and unsafe abortions. Cultural and religious barriers as well as their own attitude towards SRHR have made it difficult for young people to take charge of their own reproductive health journeys with information and services. Our communications campaigns aimed to encourage young people to actively seek and be receptive to SRHR information and services and for their parents to support them in that journey.
Intervention (what did we do?): Interpersonal Communication (Courtyard Sessions) where community health workers trained, educated young people and parents on Family Planning, GBV, and the importance of young people having access to this information at an early age as is appropriate. They did all of this using the Values Based Messaging approach. Since we conducted a baseline and end-line survey, we were able to see an increase in awareness levels in the 6 local governments of our intervention. On Social Media, we primarily targeted young people with values based messages on Family planning and SRHR. We shared videos that we developed with the help of professionals, we created a space where young people could get evidence-based information and ask questions without shame through our interactive Instagram live sessions. The project also worked with the radio as the mass medium with the highest audience in Kano for rural and urban areas alike. We trained radio hosts on Values Based Communication, GBV, and FP. We had discussions with them on their challenges and highlights since our training, in an attempt to create a space for young journalists/presenters who have a passion for SRHR and want to create change through the work they are already doing and the amazing platforms they have.
Outcomes/Results (what are the achievements):
Reached over a hundred thousand young people and parents online and in person with Values Based SRHR information.
Trained 24 CHEW and 17 Radio Hosts on values based communication, FP, and GBV.
Increased positive SRHR conversations on traditional media reaching over 3 million people
