Runggiyan Social Development Foundation, Inc

EMPOWERING GIRLS PROJECT

"An Adolescent Sexuality and Reproductive Health Project for In-School and Community –based Youth in the Province of Leyte. "

Since EGP began in 2001, over 600 girls have participated in the project, learning new skills and making life plans to help them on the road to empowerment and fulfilment.

The goal of the project is to contribute to the reduction of the incidence of teenage pregnancy and early marriages in the Province of Leyte.

The project’s purposes are:

• To help build self-confidence, knowledge and skills on sexuality and reproductive health among girls ages 12-20 years old in the first district of Leyte.
• To increase adolescent sexual reproductive health awareness and generate youth participation in adolescent reproductive health programs.
• To promote multi-sectoral support and partnership (youth-school-community-NGO) in addressing reproductive health concerns of adolescents.

Participants attend 12 learning group sessions over a period of 12 weeks. Each session focuses on a different module such as "Our Families", "Community", "Legal Rights" and "Goals and Plans". At the end of the 12 weeks, participants are able to articulate their life goals and their plans to achieve them.

The success of this project lies largely in the particpation of the Adolescent Teen Educators (ATEs - also meaning "big sister" in the local dialect), volunteers who deliver the learning group sessions to their peers. This approach enables the subject matter to be discussed in a more open forum with those of the same age.

Other Runggiyan projects;

Women's Support Center, Advocacy, Education