UNFPA training aims to reduce adolescent pregnancy in Belize
18 June 2024
Sexual and reproductive health, gender equality, and citizen participation, were among the themes addressed in skills-development and advocacy sessions for youth activists.
These sessions were part of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) regional project, “Leave No One Behind: Reduction of Adolescent Pregnancy”, which aims to address adolescent pregnancy through the education and empowerment of young people. The project is being implemented in partnership with the Government of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg.
The training programme, entitled “Participation and Empowerment of Adolescents and Young People of African Descent, Creole, and Garifunas”, took place in Dangriga over the course of January and February 2024 for two cohorts of dynamic young persons and youth activists. A curriculum developed specifically for the training programme, included sessions on thematic areas such as intersectionality, indigenous and rural populations in
Belize, sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), human rights, gender equity and citizen participation in advocacy along with key concepts per module. The programme aims to empower participants with the knowledge and skills to replicate the training within their respective communities.
This programme was followed by a one-day workshop, convened on 15 June at the Belizean Dreams Resort in Hopkins Village, which required participants to synthesize the knowledge they had received in the earlier sessions while reflecting on the realities in their communities where cultural and social dynamics can influence how information is received. To support this, they worked in groups to create district-specific action plans designed to impart the programme's lessons to other young people.
In her welcome remarks, Mackeva Westby Neal, Officer in Charge (OIC) of the UNFPA Belize country office, stated that “investing in youths means that we are investing in a future where their voices are heard, and
empowering them to use their agency to lead the charge for positive change in their homes and communities.”
The workshop concluded with a certification ceremony recognizing the young leaders' commitment to driving positive change within their communities.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Tisa Grant
Liaison officer
United Nations Population Fund
tgrant@unfpa.org
Mackeva Westby Neal
Programme Officer
United Nations Population Fund
westby-neal@unfpa.org
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