Benin/Togo:
Health and Education
Act for Adolescents and Youth Health; PASAJ (in French: Projet Agir pour la Santé des Adolescents et des Jeunes)
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Project: CARE Belgium
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Location: Atlantique Department, Allada and Ouidah districts, and Couffo Department, Tovoklin and Klouékanmé disctricts, BENIN
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Context:
Benin is a geopolitically stable West African country, but it faces significant socio-economic challenges, particularly in its rural areas. In the departments of Atlantique and Couffo, rural and peri-urban populations, mostly young, suffer from limited access to essential services, particularly in the field of Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH). These challenges are exacerbated by restrictive socio-cultural norms, which hinder sex education and limit access to appropriate services for adolescents and young people. Economic insecurity in these regions, where livelihoods are largely dependent on agriculture, accentuates young people's vulnerability to risky sexual behavior.
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Historically, these regions have not benefited from sufficient investment in Sexual and Reproductive Health. Local health systems lack the resources and infrastructure to meet the specific needs of young people. In addition, the taboos surrounding sexuality and the lack of intergenerational dialogue exacerbate the lack of information on Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights (SRHR). These factors contribute to high rates of early pregnancy, sexually transmitted infections, and school drop-out among young girls.
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The urgency of this project lies in the need to break down socio-cultural barriers, improve access to Sexual and Reproductive Health services and promote sustainable behavior change. The current context, marked by growing awareness of Sexual and Reproductive Health issues, offers a strategic opportunity for action.
This project aims to empower young people through education, leadership and access to appropriate services, while engaging communities in an inclusive dialogue. It thus responds to immediate needs while laying the foundations for sustainable social and health transformation.
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General objective
The overall objective is to contribute to the promotion of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) and the reduction of risky sexual behavior among adolescents and young people in schools and apprenticeships in the Atlantic and Couffo departments.​
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Period of execution: 08/10/2021-31/07/2023
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Beneficiaries: 10,090 people
(including 4,901 girls, 5,057 boys, 52 women and 80 men)
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Main donor: Enabel
Specific objectives
The specific objective is to increase access to Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) information and services for adolescents and young people in the Atlantique and Couffo departments. To achieve this objective, the project carried out a set of 57 activities over a 20-month period, leading to significant transformations in the target communities.
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The project set up 8 school clubs and 4 extracurricular clubs in 8 colleges and 35 learning centers. These clubs organized 240 reflexive dialogues, providing young people aged 10 to 24 with a forum to discuss Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights (SRHR). Communication and awareness-raising tools were produced and distributed, while 4 competitions on the themes of Social and Solidarity Economy (SSE) and Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights (SRHR) strengthened the commitment of young people and communities. In addition, 81 parents were trained to facilitate parent-child dialogue on Sexual and Reproductive Health issues, contributing to a better understanding and acceptance of these topics within families.
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In terms of empowerment, the project has strengthened young people's skills in areas such as leadership, entrepreneurship and negotiation techniques. It has also supported the training of 35 workshop owners and heads of craft associations to promote the integration of Social and Solidarity Economy into the apprenticeship curriculum. An active network of colleges and apprenticeship centers has been established, facilitating the dissemination of best practices in Sexual and Reproductive Health and Social and Solidarity Economy.
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In addition, 25 health workers have been trained in contraceptive technology and youth-friendly counseling. User-friendly services were installed in 4 health centers, and values clarification exercises were organized to improve health workers' attitudes towards young beneficiaries. These efforts have ensured quality Sexual and Reproductive Health services as well as family planning services, adapted to the needs of young people, while establishing an accountability framework to evaluate the quality of the services offered.
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By combining these efforts, the project has contributed to sustainable change, increasing awareness, skills and access to Sexual and Reproductive Health services for young people, while actively involving communities and the health system.
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More informations: Video HERE
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