Programming | Sexual Reproductive Health Services

Sexual Reproductive Health

This program area has been shaped by the nature of our target population—primarily young people, with a particular focus on women and girls. Our focus stems from the circumstances that led to our founding during the COVID-19 lockdown, a period that exposed critical challenges such as a surge in teenage pregnancies, unwanted pregnancies, and rising rates of STIs. We recognize the diverse sexual and reproductive health needs of young people and feel a deep responsibility to address these needs in the communities we serve, responding directly to the very reasons for our existence.

Through this pillar, we work to ensure that young people have access to essential information and services, including modern and emergency contraception, HIV and STI testing and treatment, pregnancy testing and support, counselling on gender-based violence and harmful practices, and referral services. Our goal is to bridge the gap in access to these critical services, especially in underserved areas where the need is greatest.

Evidence and lessons from the COVID-19 period highlighted the significant barriers that young people, particularly those in remote and underserved communities, face in accessing sexual and reproductive health services. These barriers range from the availability of services to issues of accessibility, including distance and restrictive social norms that often prevent young people—especially women and girls—from seeking the care they need. Our community structures and social norms continue to perpetuate gender inequalities around female sexuality, limiting their access to reproductive health services. This not only increases health risks, such as HIV and STIs, but also exposes them to heightened risks of gender-based violence, where their sexual autonomy is often controlled by others.

Our SRHR interventions are designed to address these realities and respond to the challenges that originally inspired our organization’s creation. We focus on raising awareness of SRHR services among young people, ensuring they are equipped with accurate information about their sexual and reproductive health and rights. We work to create a supportive environment where accessing services is not only possible but encouraged, providing a safe space for young people to voice their health needs without fear of judgment.

Our commitment is to work with young people—both in and out of school. We aim to build their knowledge, skills, and confidence, empowering them to demand and access the sexual and reproductive health services they need, whenever they need them. Through these efforts, we strive to dismantle the barriers that limit access to care, foster a culture of openness and understanding, and contribute to a healthier, more empowered generation of young people.