Voice and Choice: Empowering Youth and Women

Project Report on Voice and Choice: Empowering Ethiopian Youth and Women for SRHR Justice (#70446)

Dear GlobalGiving Community,

Three months ago, No One Down Relief Organization (NODRO) proudly launched its project, “Voice and Choice: Empowering Ethiopian Youth and Women for SRHR Justice,” on GlobalGiving.

This initiative envisions an Ethiopia where every young person and woman—regardless of gender, background, or identity—can exercise their right to make informed choices about their sexual and reproductive health and wellbeing.

We are profoundly grateful for this platform that connects us with compassionate supporters like you, helping us advance equality, dignity, and justice for all.

How Our Project Is Progressing So Far

Since launching, our dedicated field teams and partners—including Women’s Rights Advocacy Ethiopia (WRAE)—have been working across Oromia, Amhara, Tigray, Somali, and SNNPR regions to promote access, education, and advocacy around SRHR (Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights).

 In the first phase (June–September 2025), we have:

ü  Trained 200 youth advocates on SRHR, gender-based violence (GBV) prevention, and human rights.

ü  Facilitated 65 community dialogues on child marriage, FGM/C, and stigma reduction—reaching more than 7,500 youth and parents.

ü  Supported 6 local CSOs with capacity-building sessions and SRHR advocacy toolkits.

ü  Launched a youth-led radio campaign titled “My Voice, My Choice,” broadcasting in 4 regional languages and reaching an estimated 1.2 million listeners.

ü   Held 3 policy dialogue sessions with regional officials to advocate for youth-friendly SRHR service integration into public health systems.

Early Results & Community Stories

Youth Empowerment in Action:

“Before, I didn’t know I had the right to say no to early marriage,” says Mekdes, a 16-year-old participant from Oromia. “Now, I teach other girls in my school to speak up for themselves.”

Local Partnerships Making Change:

Through our collaboration with WRAE, community elders and religious leaders have begun publicly denouncing child marriage and FGM/C practices—creating a visible cultural shift toward respect and dialogue.

Media Impact:

Social media advocacy led by youth influencers has already generated over 20,000 online engagements, sparking intergenerational conversations about SRHR justice and stigma.

Challenges We Face

Despite encouraging progress, the journey is not without challenges.

ü  Deep-rooted stigma and conservative norms still limit open dialogue about sexuality.

ü  Limited access to youth-friendly health services in remote areas hinders service uptake.

ü  Inflation and high transport costs have constrained our field outreach and logistics.

ü  Security concerns in certain zones occasionally delay planned community sessions.

Nevertheless, the resilience and commitment of our youth champions inspire us to continue pushing boundaries for lasting change.

What’s next?

In the coming quarter, NODRO will:

ü  Expand community SRHR dialogues to all 11 target regions, reaching 25,000 more participants.

ü  Train 300 additional youth champions and form regional SRHR advocacy networks.

ü   Develop and distribute comprehensive SRHR toolkits to schools and youth centers.

ü  Influence at least 3 new regional policy reforms promoting youth-friendly and gender-inclusive SRHR services.

ü  Launch a national campaign on safe abortion rights and menstrual health management using multimedia channels.

Sustainability and Long-Term Vision

This project goes beyond immediate interventions.
By strengthening local advocacy capacity and embedding SRHR principles into policy frameworks, we are building a sustainable movement led by youth and women themselves.
Our “SRHR Champions Network” will continue advocacy beyond the project’s lifespan, while policy wins will institutionalize youth-friendly services across regional health systems.

Why This Project Matters

In Ethiopia, 40% of girls are still married before age 18, and 70% of youth lack access to comprehensive sexuality education. Stigma and silence around SRHR issues perpetuate gender-based violence, unsafe abortions, and preventable maternal deaths.

Through “Voice and Choice,” we aim to break this silence—amplifying the voices of youth and women to claim their rights, challenge discrimination, and build a future rooted in equality and justice.