Knitting the voices of young indigenous women to defend their sexual and productive rights.

About the project

The project Knitting the voices of young indigenous women to defend their sexual and reproductive rights was financed by Summit Foundation and Rick Marin Endowment, and it seeks to create and strengthen the leadership skills in the young population, so that they can promote positive changes in sexual and reproductive health programs, policies, and services for teenagers. It also seeks to increase their knowledge and awareness regarding their sexual and reproductive rights; and for them to take better care of their health and to have the ability to make informed decisions for their own lives.

Objective

Our objective is to improve the skills of young women with age ranges between 13 and 18 years (direct beneficiaries) so that they can make informed decisions for their own lives, exercise their rights to education and to sexual and reproductive health, and to create a positive environment after the project implementation.

Participants

Direct

1,500 young people of indigenous origin (1,000 women and 500 men), whose ages range between 13 and 18 years old.
2,000 young women between the ages of 15 and 30, who participate in the literacy training process.
1,000 young indigenous women participating in agricultural and economic projects that generate income and that are resilient to climate change.

Indirect

20,000 people, consisting of family members of those young women.
30,000 people will have access to information through communication campaigns on sensibilization.

Strategies

CARE, in coordination with GOJoven, will establish a partnership strategy with:

The Ministry of Education to develop a study program in the educational system regarding sexual and reproductive rights for girls and young women.
The Ministry of Public Health to promote the access to quality healthcare services.
The Presidential Secretariat for Women to impact government programs in favor of sexual and reproductive health rights.
The Reproductive Health Observatory (OSAR) to monitor and control public policies and programs related to sexual and reproductive health.
The United Nations Population Fund to join efforts and knowledge on sexual and reproductive rights. In addition, the municipal authorities will promote the inclusion of the young population to their development agenda.

Results

An increased knowledge on sexual and reproductive rights, health, and informed decision making for young indigenous women.
Strengthened leadership skills and the participation of young indigenous women in platforms meant for the youth that influence the fulfillment and exercise of their human rights, including citizen monitoring.
Strategic partnerships established for the implementation of existing procedures, policies, and instruments to provide high-quality information, and sexual and reproductive healthcare services to young indigenous women.

Key activities

The implementation of an educational program with cultural relevance in sexual and reproductive health for teenage indigenous women.
The training of young leaders (men and women), volunteers and teachers, using the approach of trainers who focus on creating reproductions and expanding their markets.
To train teenage indigenous women on leadership, and on advocacy/policies regarding sexual and reproductive rights.
Social monitoring —in favor of teenage indigenous women on platforms designed for a young audience—, to promote the access to quality, youth-friendly sexual and reproductive health services.
Strengthen the knowledge and advocacy of sexual and reproductive health and policies in youth platforms.
To partner with the Reproductive Health Observatory (OSAR) and the Presidential Secretariat for Women to influence the compliance with the protocol for the prevention of teenage pregnancies, and attention to sexual violence in indigenous women, young people, and teenagers.
Create strategic partnerships between CARE, partners, and allies to have an effective coordination between the Ministry of Public Health and the Ministry of Education; to facilitate access to sexual and reproductive health services for young teenage women, and for the effective implementation of the national strategy of sexual and reproductive health.

Partners

CARE, in coordination with GoJoven, will implement an educational program for girls and young women within the educational system to address sexual and reproductive rights. With the Ministry of Public Health and the Ministry of Education, we will promote access to quality healthcare services. Additionally, in cooperation with the Presidential Secretariat for Women, we will work to influence government programs in favor of sexual and reproductive health rights, while our partnership with the Reproductive Health Observatory (OSAR) will also allow us to coordinate actions to monitor and control public programs and policies related to sexual and reproductive health. In addition, the partnership with the United Nations Population Fund will make possible to join efforts and exchange knowledge on sexual and reproductive rights; Lastly, the intervention with municipal authorities will provide the opportunity to promote the inclusion of young people in their development agenda.

Activities performed

The implementation of the Sexual and Reproductive Health Training Program for indigenous teenage women with cultural relevance, in Quiché and Totonicapán.
Community cinemas to promote changes in the social perception of pregnancies in girls and teenagers.
Promotional activities implemented in the department during commemorative dates to advocate on sexual and reproductive rights.
Strategic partnership with promoters of sexual and reproductive rights to coordinate and join efforts to reduce pregnancies in girls and teenagers. Some of these partners are the Pies de Occidente Association, the Pan American Social Marketing Organization (PASMO), and OSAR.
Design of an awareness campaign on Sexual and Reproductive Rights.

Implementation period

February 2017 – 2021.