Gender Equality Philippines Project #43689

Diplomas, Not Diapers!

by Roots of Health

Project Report | Mar 5, 2025
Continued Support for HIV Prevention and CSE

By Amina Evangelista Swanepoel | Project Leader

We continue our HIV prevention and treatment work!

Strengthening Communities, Preventing HIV, and Securing a Healthier Future

Last year, we took bold steps to combat HIV in Palawan. We provided free HIV screenings—thousands of them—ensuring that more people knew their status and could take charge of their health. To expand our impact, we trained community-based screeners, equipping them with the skills to reach even more people in need.

For those who tested positive, we offered compassionate support, accompanying them to treatment centers and helping turn anxiety into hope.

Prevention was also a top priority. Through our clinics and strategically placed condom dispensers across Palawan, we made protection more accessible than ever. By partnering with village health centers and local businesses, we ensured that lifesaving prevention tools were within reach for those who needed them most.

We also worked to educate the next generation. Through KeriTogether (We Can Do It Together)—our online platform dedicated to sexual health education—we provided young people with accurate, stigma-free information on the risks of unprotected sex, empowering them to make informed choices for their futures.

One of our biggest wins in 2024? A landmark local law in Puerto Princesa that secured funding for HIV programs—a crucial step toward sustainable, long-term impact.

Your support fuels this work. Together, we are building stronger communities, breaking down barriers to healthcare, and shaping a healthier future for generations to come.

Continued Advocacy for Comprehensive Sexuality Education

Your Voice Matters More Than Ever.

A well-funded and highly organized opposition, Project Dalisay—supported by a former Supreme Court chief justice and evangelical groups—is actively spreading dangerous misinformation about a critical Senate bill designed to reduce adolescent pregnancy in the Philippines. A key pillar of this bill is Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE), which is proven to protect young people’s health and future. Unfortunately, opponents have resorted to false claims, insisting that CSE will hypersexualize youth, encourage inappropriate behaviors, and cause “gender confusion”—none of which is true.

At Roots of Health, we are fighting back. Alongside the Defend CSE network, we are working tirelessly to set the record straight. Our Executive Director, Ami Evangelista Swan, has been amplifying real stories from the communities we serve through national media, demonstrating how CSE saves lives. We also released a press statement and an official organizational response to debunk harmful myths and emphasize that age-appropriate, science-based sexuality education is essential—not only for preventing teen pregnancies but also for reducing sexual violence, maternal deaths, and the rising cases of STIs and HIV. These efforts have gained significant media traction in recent weeks.

During a recent Senate hearing, Senator Risa Hontiveros recognized Roots of Health as a leader in the fight against teen pregnancy. She highlighted our impact—educating over 100,000 young people, training 6,500 teachers, and contributing to a 60% decline in teen pregnancies in Puerto Princesa last year. This progress is possible because of the unwavering support of partners, advocates, and local government allies who believe in the power of education.

But the fight is far from over. As we continue to push for comprehensive sex education, we will be launching new content on our social media platforms to engage and inform even more people. Stay tuned—we need your help in making sure the facts prevail.

Here’s how you can take action:

Share credible information about CSE in your circles—both online and offline.
Counter misinformation by fact-checking and ensuring truth and science lead the discussion.
Engage your community and leaders—urge them to support policies that benefit young people, regardless of religious or political affiliations.

With your support, we can ensure that Filipino youth receive the education they deserve—one that empowers them to make informed, responsible decisions about their lives and futures.

Thank you for standing with us.

In solidarity,

The Roots of Health Team

Defend Comprehensive Sex Ed with us

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Nov 11, 2024
From Dreams to Milestones

By Amina Evangelista Swanepoel | Project Leader

Help teachers teach sex ed

Dear Supporters,

We are thrilled to celebrate a milestone with you—our 15th anniversary! Over the past decade and a half, Roots of Health has made tremendous strides, all thanks to your support and belief in our mission.

Thank you for being part of our story!

As we celebrate 15 incredible years, we’re taking a moment to reflect on the journey of Roots of Health in Palawan and the impact we've made together. While we honor our past, we’re also excitedly looking toward the future as we work to expand our reach across the Philippines. Watch our story here.

Commentary: Help teachers teach sex ed

“Many fear that sex ed leads to promiscuity, but studies show that it leads to more cautious sexual behavior. Young people delay sex when they know the consequences.”

Our public school teachers need training to implement comprehensive sexuality education and effectively provide information to our students!

Learn more on this op-ed piece by our Executive Director Amina Evangelista Swanepoel here.

Maternal wellness in the postpartum period

While a mother prioritizes caring for her newborn, it’s equally important not to overlook her own health and well-being. This is why our clinical team regularly visits the provincial hospital to ensure postpartum moms know their family planning options and are able to access their preferred contraceptive early on. In this way we can help prevent unplanned pregnancies shortly after birth and promote healthy spacing between children.

Health equity for disadvantaged youth

Our youth team has been hard at work teaching marginalized young adults from the Greater Manila Area on critical health knowledge and connecting them with essential care services. We developed a comprehensive curriculum that encompasses a wide range of topics including sexual and reproductive health, mental health, gender sensitivity, and healthy lifestyle and behavior. To ensure the sustainability of this initiative, we are conducting training sessions for local health workers, equipping them to carry the program forward in the future.

This collaboration with Palladium International marks our commitment to expanding our impact beyond Palawan, reaching more communities across the country. We’re excited to join hands with more organizations that share our vision!

We are truly grateful for your belief in our mission and choosing to support us. Your confidence in our work means the world to us!

Maternal wellness in the postpartum period

Health equity for disadvantaged youth

Links:

ROH Legacy Video

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Jul 17, 2024
Sex Ed and Pride Month Highlights

By Amina Evangelista Swanepoel | Project Leader

Aika teaching young people sex ed

It has been a busy few months for us at Roots of Health!

In May we celebrated Sex Ed month and undertook special activities and events to ensure that more young people could access information about their bodies and their health.

We noted that May was #SexEdForAll Month, but that young people still find it difficult to access sex ed. We’re working closely with educators and youth leaders to ensure that essential information on Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health (ASRH) reaches young people in schools and communities. Our team constantly creates age-appropriate and localized resources for teens to learn more about ASRH. We also work with the Department of Education to mainstream our resources and teaching methods into the public school system.

Young people deserve accurate and comprehensive ASRH information designed for them, so they can make healthy decisions about sex and relationships, now and in the future

On May 19th, we also commemorated #InternationalAIDSCandlelightMemorialDay

Every year, the International AIDS Candlelight Memorial Day is held to remember the lives lost to AIDS.

More than 7,000 people have died from AIDS since the first HIV case was recorded in the Philippines in 1984. Nearly half of them had advanced HIV upon diagnosis.

At Roots of Health, we actively promote programs and policies aimed at preventing the spread of HIV and building a community that is supportive of people living with HIV (PLWH).

HIV is no longer a death sentence, especially if diagnosed early.

Together we work on prevention, screening, and linking people with HIV to care so no more lives are lost.

In June, we celebrated Pride Month.

Here at Roots of Health we stand in solidarity with the LGBTQIA+ community. We embrace everyone for who they are and empower others to do the same everyday.

Roots of Health offers non-judgemental sexual and reproductive health services to all. We partner with LGBTQIA+ organizations, increase access to free clinical services and contraceptives, train health workers on non-discriminatory community-based HIV screening, and provide comprehensive sexuality education to young people.

While this month is dedicated to the celebration of pride, our celebration continues everyday of the year. Join us as we continue to fight for everyone’s freedom to be their most authentic selves.

In July, we went back to couples to whom we had provided training on couples communication to find out if they were utilizing what they learned. We were delighted to find out that our skills training really helped!

We recognize that building healthy relationships is essential to women’s reproductive health.

Our Young Couples Communication program is centered on effective communication and consent, nurturing the foundations of positive and respectful partnerships. See the photos below to learn about one couple;s reflections on our training.

We are continuing our efforts to provide high quality programs and services to reduce unplanned pregnancies and new cases of HIV. Thank you for your continued support and for being our partner in this journey.

AIDS Candlelight Memorial

Pride Month

Young Couples Communication Feedback

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