Child marriage is a human rights violation and threatens the futures of girls around the world. According to UNICEF, "Despite a steady decline in this harmful practice over the past decade, child marriage remains widespread, with approximately one in five girls married in childhood across the globe."

Anike Foundation recently helped Women Relief Aid (WRA), previously known as Women Relief Organization (WRO), secure a grant from UAF-Africa to conduct a four-day training in Yambio on the devastating impact of early marriage, the importance of hygiene practice, and safety precautions related to pregnancy.

WHO IS WRA?

WRA is a women-led NGO registered in South Sudan in 2017. WRA works to promote and protect women’s rights through women’s sexual and reproductive health, education, livelihood, leadership and development. They operate in most South Sudan states, often partnering with local communities at the grassroots level. 

THE PROJECT

With UAF-Africa’s generous grant, WRA achieved the following:

• Training of 60 adolescent girls and 50 mothers to become peer educators on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR).

• Four radio talk shows, which created awareness about SRHR programs.

• School debates, in which the importance of sex education was discussed.

• 120 printed T-shirts with the inscription, “Promoting SRHR programs to End Teenage Pregnancy in Yambio.” 

The primary beneficiaries were sixty (60) adolescent school girls aged 11-16 and fifty (50) mothers aged 17-45.

IMPACT 

The project resulted in significant behavioral changes among local community members—specifically, how members see young girls. Since the project’s inception, many community members who used to see young girls as sources of wealth have expanded their perspective. 

Additionally, beneficiaries used knowledge from training sessions to maintain hygiene at school and at home. A few examples of this include newfound knowledge regarding breastfeeding, making and using sanitary pads. Most girls drop out of school simply because of a lack of sanitary pads; but now, many girls in Yambio can make their own sanitary pads, use them and continue their studies. 

In a nutshell, WRA built awareness, acceptance, and support for youth-friendly SRHR education and services that address gender inequality. And their efforts have a lasting effect. Peer educators became societal role models and now work as agents of change for other community members. 

“We learned that the absence of sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) is the greatest health problem among young girls ages 10-16 years in the Yambio project area. Gender inequalities, lack of knowledge, discrimination and oppression make it hard for young girls to make decisions about their own bodies and sexuality. Issues concerning young girls’ SRHR are complex but, importantly, WRO with this funding has increased and strengthened young girls’ efforts, human rights, health information and knowledge. WRO has provided accurate information regarding sexuality reproduction health rights and influenced community behavior changes in Yambio where the project was implemented.”

 [Urgent Action Fund – Africa Rapid Response Grant Report Form]

SUSTAINABILITY:

Increased expertise and knowledge-sharing can shift community attitudes and behaviors. 

To continue this positive movement in South Sudan, WRA has these recommendations:

• Follow-up meetings with schools, authorities, health authorities, police, and other government departments responsible for child welfare in Yambio. 

• Engagement with other stakeholders in Yambio to create a more conducive environment for young girls to fit in. 

• Engagement with trained adolescent girls (peer educators) to create awareness in the project area and beyond. 

• Engagement with trained parents (peer educators) in helping promote SRHR programs to end early adolescent pregnancy in Yambio. 

• Mentorship programs in schools within Yambio. 

• Radio talk shows to educate the public on SRHR programs to end early female pregnancies. 

FINAL THOUGHTS

Thanks to Anike Foundation, the generous support of UAF-Africa, and the hard work of WRA, women and girls in Yambio now have increased knowledge about early marriage, hygiene practice, and pregnancy. 

Please help WRA continue its efforts to promote and protect women’s rights. Consider supporting Anike Foundation and WRA by clicking “Donate” at the bottom of this page.