Generation Alive is an implementing partner on the Her Future, Her Choice (HFHC) project being implemented in Chibombo, Chisamba, Namwala and Itezhi-tezhi districts respectively. The project’s overall goal is strengthening Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) for adolescent girls and young women (AGYW).
GAL’s activities involve engaging with adolescent girls, young women, community members, women, men, boys and influencers to understand and transform negative and discriminatory social norms in order to enable AGYW to exercise more meaningful decision-making power regarding their SRHR.
The following are the activities implemented by Generation Alive:
Re-establishing youth-friendly spaces in selected secondary schools
Generation Alive (GAL) has re-established youth-friendly clubs in eight (8) schools in Chibombo District and twelve (12) in Namwala District. These clubs were re-established with support from the District Education Board Secretary (DEBS), District Health Office (DHO) and trained peer educators. The youth-friendly clubs are composed of learners from non-examination classes to pave the way for those who would be sitting for exams to do so.
The clubs are currently being used as a platform for learners to share comprehensive information on sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) through holding weekly sessions and meetings as well as giving out SRHR messages during school assemblies. Some of the topics being discussed in the clubs range from life skills, confidence, assertiveness, GBV, contraceptives, teenage pregnancy, early marriages, HIV, leadership, and social norms as they hinder women and girls from enjoying their SRHR.
Organising panel debates
Generation Alive has organised interschool debates for the in-school youth-friendly spaces established under the Her Future Her Choice project. The debates are aimed at creating a platform for learners to deliberate on various issues affecting them such as Child marriages, teenage pregnancies, Gender Based Violence and low enjoyment of SRHR.
Re-establishment and Management of youth-friendly spaces
Generation Alive has re-established Youth Friendly Spaces (YFS) under the Her Future Her Choice project by providing technical and logistical support which included stationery, IEC materials, capacity building through training for some YFS members as well as training them in report writing and documentation of all their activities being implemented. Additionally, Generation Alive has provided tents to clinics that do not have shelters for youth-friendly spaces both in Chibombo and Namwala districts respectively. 18 youth-friendly spaces have been established across heal centres in the Namwala district and 14 in the Chibombo district
Conducting awareness-raising sessions on contraceptive products and services
Generation Alive has been holding sessions on contraceptives and services with adolescent girls and young women in the youth-friendly spaces established under the project. The sessions are conducted with support from family planning providers and health care providers in the facilities. The sessions help provide comprehensive sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) information on the various contraceptive methods available in local health facilities.
Linking adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) to GBV & SRHR services
Generation Alive (GAL) has also held sessions on linking adolescent girls and young women to GBV and SRHR services in Namwala and Chibombo districts respectively. Young people particularly adolescent girls and young women lack adequate comprehensive information on sexual and reproductive health and rights including access to gender-based violence (GBV) reporting and management structures. The sessions have been conducted with support from the health care providers trained in providing GBV management and referral services. The sessions provide comprehensive information on GBV and the guidelines and reporting structures in existence at the community level. The sessions enable participants (AGYW) to gain knowledge on GBV, reporting, management structures and how to identify the different forms.
Organise meetings between Community SRHR service providers and young people
Generation Alive has organized meetings between Community SRHR service providers and young people. The meetings are conducted with support from the family planning providers and health care providers in the facilities, this is being done in order to develop a relationship between young people and community SRHR providers so as to increase knowledge, access and uptake to SRHR services among young people in communities.