In partnership with S.E.VIE, Action10 is addressing the crucial problem of early pregnancies in Togo. With members of the local community reaching out in search of help, an awareness program has been set in motion to decrease the early pregnancy cases, to provide education on sexuality and gender and also adress a number of interrelated issues such as lack of basic hygiene opportunities and minimal access to safe drinking water.
A study conducted in Togo revealed that out of 5443 pregnancy cases during the school year 2011-2012, 230 pregnancies were recorded in the primary school, among little girls aged 6 to 12. Lack of education in sexuality and gender responsibilities is a major underlying problem, and in addition to that lack of very basic utilities such as access to safe drinking water and proper hygiene, and opportunities are at the core of the problem.
S.E.VIE-Action10 will address the situation with a program that will create local advocates who support prevention of early pregnancies and early marriage, educate both young school girls and boys on the dangers of early pregnancies, provide adequate support to young girls who have become pregnant, and address the use of contraception. In addition to these, the program will install a number of toilets, provide sanitation pads and install a water committee that will increase access to safe water.
The aim of this project is to help the large number of young girls who are suffering from the consequences of early pregnancies, and assist the whole local community by providing very basic needs such as sanitation and safe drinking water. The program not only has the potential to be self sufficient once the start-up costs are covered, but also to expand to other regions.
This project has provided additional documentation in a PDF file (projdoc.pdf).
