FUTURE WITHOUT BORDERS' ADOLESCENT PROJECT

More work still needs to be done in Cameroon to achieve gender equality. Only 40 of legal frameworks that promote, enforce and monitor gender equality under the SDG are in place. The adolescent birth rate is 122.2 per 1,000 women aged 15-19 as of 2017, up from 122 per 1,000 in 2022. 

Despite Cameroon’s efforts to improve health care, the number of health clinics offering family planning services is very small and the majority of those that do are located in urban areas. Act No. 90/035 of 1990, prohibiting birth control propaganda, limits Cameroonian women’s access to information to enable them to choose a contraceptive method and thus violates their rights. Information, education, and communication strategies can increase the prevalence of family planning methods, which would improve reproductive health. Promotion of effective contraception also can prevent recourse to abortion. It is, therefore, necessary to establish an effective reproductive health awareness-raising program for women and girls in Cameroon. Moreover, women of reproductive age (15-49 years) often face barriers with respect to their sexual and reproductive health and rights. As of December 2020, only 38.4% of indicators needed to monitor the SDGs from a gender perspective were available, with gaps in key areas, in particular,  information and communications technology skills. In addition, many areas, such as gender and poverty, physical and sexual harassment, women’s access to assets (including land), and gender and the environment, lack comparable methodologies for regular monitoring. Closing these gender data gaps is essential for achieving gender-related SDG commitments in Cameroon. 

Due to the geographical and cultural nature of Fako division, access to information by the youths and vulnerable groups has been a serious issue. Most information on sexual and reproductive health and rights is not readily available. This situation is also partly caused by wilful denial of information to youth and vulnerable groups by parents and other stakeholders that they are risky and unstable group. In a generation driven by lack of access to information, the exclusion of vulnerable people from vital information means that they are further pushed into frustration, poverty, destitution and contraction of HIV and STIs and other health risks. Adolescent girls and boys face a lot of problems as they transcend to adulthood. Most of these are related to their sexual and reproductive health. Adolescent girls and women are recognized as one of the underserved categories, and their sexual, reproductive health and rights related issues exist without concrete action plan in Fako division and Cameroon at large. There is marked absence of reliable data and information, which is indicative of the priority given to this group in Cameroon. Women and girl’s knowledge regarding Sexual and Reproductive Health and Right is limited. There is therefore an urgent need to provide education, awareness, proper services for contraceptives, HIV testing, Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI) treatment, condoms etc for the women and girls to meet their Sexual and Reproductive Health and Right needs. We shall also promote parent-child sexual communication about sexuality, teen pregnancy prevention, and related issues. 

The project is aim at provide information about all aspects of sexual and reproductive health and rights of women and girls in Fako division, so that they will be aware of the changes they go through and how they should protect themselves against sexual abuse, STIs and HIV/AIDS. The project shall focus on the goal of sexuality education and parent-child communication to enable the women and girls develop the knowledge, autonomy and skills such as communication, decision-making and negotiation to make the transition to adult-hood in good sexual health. The project includes information about sexual and reproductive health and rights, which includes puberty, pregnancy, STIs, and HIV/AIDS education, empowerment, etc. But it shall also address the relationships and emotions involved in sexual experience through peer education.

Since young people sometimes find it difficult or impossible to discuss sexual matters with adults, in this project we shall promote peer education. Young people often find it easier to talk to a friend or someone closer to their age group about sexuality.  The training and involvement of young people as peer educators will ensure that the programmes, activities, information and services are appropriate and relevant to young people’s concerns.

However, the extent to which parents are involved and the manner in which they are involved in their children’s lives are critical factors in the prevention of high-risk sexual activity. Children whose parents talk with them about sexual matters or provide sexuality education or contraceptive information at home are more likely than others to postpone sexual activity. And when these adolescents become sexually active, they have fewer sexual partners and are more likely to use contraceptives and condoms than young people who do not discuss sexual matters with their parents, and therefore are at reduced risk for pregnancy, HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Therefore, in this project we shall also promote parent-child sexual communication through The Parent-Peer-Education program which will address the community-identified need to increase parent-child communication about sexuality, teen pregnancy prevention, and related issues. Community members will be trained to lead discussions of peers on how to talk with their children about these topics.

The project aim to impact 100 women and girls within the age range of 13 to 39 yeaes in the Buea community,  Fako Division, Southwest region of Cameroon. These target group will benefit from the project in the various ways. 

- It shall increase their awareness and knowledge about Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights, by implementing comprehensive women and girl's led Sexual Reproductive Health education programs.

- It shall break the primary barriers to the women and girl's Sexual Reproductive Health and  increase the access to youth-friendly sexual and reproductive health services. 

- The project will also implement evidence-based interventions, such as peer education, community outreach programs, and social marketing campaigns, to promote positive behavioral changes among the target group. 

- This project will increase the use of contraception among sexually active women and girls, by providing comprehensive information on contraceptive methods, ensuring access to a range of contraceptive options, and addressing misconceptions.

- The project will create supportive ecosystems that enable women in need to seek help, advice, and support when needed, which will lead to an increased availability of supportive networks and reduced stigma surrounding Sexual Reproductive Health.

- It will create a sustained improvement in women and girl's sexual and reproductive health beyond the project duration.

Future Without Borders F.W.B is located in Buea, Fako division, Cameroon, where the project will be carried out. The focus of F.W.B is on community development through the participation of its own people. The role of F.W.B is strengthening and empowering the communities to perceive their own problems/needs, and to solve them through collective action and participation in planning and implementation of programmes and projects with F.W.B. 

We operate at grassroot level, and have easy aceess and direct contact with the target population. We aim to build this project on the existing local community structures and build and strengthen their capacities. Community leaders and members will be trained on the various aspects. The trained leaders and peer educators will work as community volunteers/ facilitators and hence the acquired skills and knowledge will remain in the community and live beyond the project period. In addition, the use of participatory approaches and user-friendly modern tools will make the interventions community friendly and the target community will quickly adopt and own the project as their own; this is because the community itselve will be the driver of the process and the skills acquired are transferrable and replicable to reach more peers and a wider community. The project will promote the community participation and hence building of ownership to enable the community identify and solve its own health program through the use of community action cycle approach and this will ensure sustainability of the project. 

The Sexual Reproductive Health Right and gender toolkits for peer educators and parents will be developed and published in both English and local language and will be copied and distributed in schools, women and girl’s networks and health centres so that the project remains in operation beyond the grant period to initiate discussions in the community between parents, women and girls, even boys included.

We operate at local level, we impact underserved communities that have veen attack my violence, poverty, disease, crisis, disaster or natural calamities, such as earthquake, landslide, floot, etc. We touch the lives of individuals as we extend our projects to different communities depending on their specifit needs. So fact, our organization gave impacted the lives of up to 1000 people. 

A leading global technology company and longtime Talking Book supporter, Arm’s sustainablility approach creates innovative partnerships and technology to achieve the UN Global Goals. This project targets women and girls aged 13 to 39 years in Buea, Fako divison and will be implemented over 12-month period.

We are aim to distribute Talking Books to 100 women and girls shared into groups, led by community volunteers and facilitators, in which the women and girls will meet weekly to listen to messages and discuss their experiences. On a rota basis, group members can take home a Talking Book to listen to with their families, We shall hire a consultant to produce culturally relevant messages, including songs and dramas tailored on Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights. We shall also translate messages that are based on the Ministry of Health’s standard sexual health education materials and recorded in the local language of the target group/beneficiaries. Every few months, Future Without Borders F.W.B will update the talking Book content and collect usage data and user feedback. This will allow us to monitor message engagement, identify issues and trends, and hear directly from target group in their own voices.

The project to reach 100 women and girls and 300 family members in Buea, Fako division, Southwest region, Cameroon. 

In addition, we will also do the following in passing across awareness:

• A wider reach: Through household listening, Sexual Reproductive Health and Right messaging can be heard by the whole family and not just those who attend the youth groups. So this will mean a significant increase in reach and, more importantly, reach the most marginalized, illiterate and vulnerable, through family base discussion with volunteers/facilitators.

• Message quality: Previously, community volunteers did not always deliver high-quality Sexual Reproductive Health Right information. The use of Talking Books will enable the community volunteers to deliver consistent and accurate messaging.

• Community feedback: Because Talking Books will allow people to engage with Sexual Reproductive Health Right messages in a less intrusive way, this will lead to more open and honest feedback about the project interventions. In addition, stakeholders can use the Talking Book’s built-in microphone to record anonymous feedback. 

• Also, since the target population are underserved, they will be thought how to access reliable Sexual and Reproductive Health education online, and from reliable sources without being misled. 

.

The impact goals for this projatct shall be to;

- Develop and implement a comprehensive women and girls Sexual Reproductive Health curriculum in schools, youth centers, and community settings.

- Conduct awareness campaigns through various media channels to educate adolescents and parents about women and girl's Sexual Reproductive Health, covering topics such as puberty, contraception, sexually transmitted infections (STIs), and healthy relationships.

- Establish peer education programs to promote accurate and non-judgmental information sharing among adolescents.

- Collaborate with local health authorities to establish youth-friendly clinics that provide confidential, non-discriminatory, and accessible sexual and reproductive health services.

- Train healthcare providers on adolescent-friendly approaches, including communication skills, confidentiality, and addressing the specific needs of adolescents.

- Implement mobile clinics or outreach programs to reach the women and girls who are the targeted population of this project.

- Establish support groups or safe spaces where women and girls can discuss their concerns and seek guidance from trained facilitators or counselors.

- Engage parents, teachers, and community leaders through workshops and dialogues to address misconceptions, reduce stigma, and promote positive attitudes towards women and girl's Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights.

- Collaborate with relevant stakeholders, including government agencies, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and community-based organizations, to advocate for policies and programs that prioritize  women and girl's Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights.

- Integrate gender-sensitive approaches into  women and girl's Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights interventions to address power imbalances, harmful gender norms, and gender-based violence.

- Conduct capacity-building workshops and life skills training for women and girls, with a focus on assertiveness, communication, decision-making, and negotiation skills.

- Encourage the active participation of women and girls in program planning, implementation, and evaluation processes.

- Establish a robust monitoring and evaluation framework to assess the effectiveness and impact of the interventions.

- Collect and analyze data on key indicators such as knowledge levels, contraceptive use, STI rates, unintended pregnancies, and school retention rates.

- Regularly review and adapt the interventions based on the findings to ensure continuous improvement and sustainability.

- Continue carrying the project in other communities facing similar issues and impacting more population and improve on areas where improvements are needed. Share success stories with communities, donors, stakeholders and the world at large.

We shall conduct a thorough need accessment to understand the specific challenges and barriers related to women and girl's sexual and reproductive health in the Buea community, which will include; a review of existing data and literature on women and girl's sexual and reproductive health. Surveys and interviews with key stakeholders, including women and girls, parents, teachers, healthcare providers, and the community leaders. Focus group discussions to gain insights into the cultural and social factors influencing women and girls sexual and reproductive health.

We shall also develop a comprehensive curriculum on sexual and reproductive health tailored to the needs and cultural context of the women and girls in Buea community, which should cover topics such as; Anatomy and physiology of the reproductive system. Puberty, menstruation, and hygiene. Healthy relationships, consent, and communication skills. STIs, including prevention, transmission, and treatment. Contraceptive methods and family planning. Gender equality, rights, and empowerment.

We shall train a team of healthcare providers, educators, volunteers, community members and peer educators to deliver the sexual and reproductive health curriculum effectively. The training should focus on; Comprehensive knowledge of the curriculum topics. Effective teaching methods for engaging and empowering the women and girls. Sensitivity and cultural competence in addressing women and girl's sexual and reproductive health issues.

We shall collaborate with schools to implement the sexual and reproductive health curriculum as part of the regular curriculum or through dedicated workshops, which will include; Integrating the curriculum into existing subjects such as biology or life skills. Conducting interactive workshops and seminars for students, teachers, and parents. Establishing peer education programs to promote student-led discussions and support.

We shall organize community-level campaigns and events to raise awareness about women and girl's sexual and reproductive health and rights, which will involve; Conducting information sessions at community centers, youth clubs, and religious institutions. Distributing educational materials, brochures, and posters, Engaging the community leaders and influencers to support and endorse the project.

We shall establish partnerships with healthcare providers and clinics to ensure accessible and youth-friendly sexual and reproductive health services, which will include; Training healthcare providers on womenn and girl's-friendly service delivery. Establishing referral networks for specialized services. Promoting confidential and non-judgmental services for the women and girls.

We shall regularly monitor and evaluate the project’s progress and impact using both qualitative and quantitative methods, which will include; Pre and post-intervention surveys to assess changes in knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors. Focus group discussions and interviews to gather feedback from participants. And analysis of clinic data to track the utilization of sexual and reproductive health services.

Full time staff = 5

Part-time taff = 4

Contractors = 4

Volunteers = 7

We have worked for two years and above at grassroot level.

The project will involve collaboration with stakeholders, government agencies, NGO, and the community.  We shall take into account community participation in the project, and engage community members to take active role in the project at all level. Gender equality will also be taken into consideration by giving every participant the opportunity to partcipate in decision making process. Cultural diveristy and heritage will also be taken into consideration, as the project will be conducted, taken cultural values to determine project execution. 

The project will be conducted in the following manner;

Activity 1: We shall develop and implement a comprehensive sexuality education curriculum for the women and girls in schools and community centers.

Activity 2: We shall train teachers and facilitators on delivering the curriculum effectively, ensuring they have the necessary skills and knowledge to address sensitive topics and create a safe and supportive learning environment.

Activity 3: We shall establish youth-friendly health clinics or designated spaces within existing health facilities in the Buea community that are specifically tailored to meet the women and girls.

Activity 4: We shall conduct outreach programs to raise awareness about the availability of youth-friendly services, utilizing various channels such as schools, community centers, and social media platforms to reach adolescents directly. 

Activity 5: We shall conduct interactive workshops and training sessions to enhance adolescents’ life skills, including communication, negotiation, decision-making, critical thinking, and self-esteem building. 

Activity 6: We shall implement a peer education program where trained peer educators will engage with their peers to disseminate accurate information about sexual and reproductive health. 

Activity 7: We shall organize community awareness campaigns to engage parents, caregivers, and community leaders in promoting women and girls sexual and reproductive health. 

Activity 8: Collaborate with local stakeholders, including schools, the community organizations, and healthcare providers, to advocate for policy reforms and increased investment in women and girls sexual and reproductive health and rights. 

This project will be funded through grants, and suatinable donations and community contributions. This are the method in which we can raise income to sponsor a project, giving that we are not for profit entity.