Full Project Title:
Scaling up Advocacy and Youth-Led Action (Volunteer Peer Advocates) on the Prevention of Teenage Pregnancy.

The serious problem on the rising cases of adolescent pregnancy occurs around the globe. According to the World Health Organization(January 2020), there are 21 million girls aged 15-19 become pregnant. Also, there are 777,000 births recorded in third-world countries alone. The bulk of such incidence happens among 15-year-old teen girls. The Philippines has the second-highest teen pregnancy rate in South East Asia at 6%. Further, the country has an adolescent fertility rate of 54.76% in 2018 (World Bank, 2020). To elaborate,there are 547 teen girls who gave birth in every 1,000-recorded births. More so, CALABARZON region inLuzon island ranked first in 2012 survey of Teen Pregnancy cases. The Yakap sa Kaunlaran ng Bata, Inc.(YKBI), a child-centered NGO that serves the CALABARZON area, is eager to contribute to addressing the issue of teen pregnancy. With the organization’s years of experience in community development, it aspires to pioneer a community-based teenage pregnancy prevention program, highlighting women and children’s rights and strong community stakeholders’ support as backbones of the program. The municipality of Bay, Laguna is supposed to be the target area of the organisation’s advocacy against teen pregnancy. However, 2017 data revealed that the city of San Pablo, also in Laguna, was in the top 3 among cities/municipalities when it comes to teen pregnancy rate. The reason why the Project, “Strengthening Youth-Led Action on the Prevention of Teenage Pregnancy,” covered San Pablo instead. In2018, YKBI, with Voice Global Philippines as its partner, 5 barangays became the official pilot areas of the Project. And in mid-2019, additional 4 barangays, also with high incidences of pregnancy rate, were also covered, as per the recommendation of the Technical Working Group (TWG). There’s a need to continue to capacitate the volunteer peer advocates and stakeholders to ensure protection and development. This empowerment proposal was envisioned to address the foregoing gaps and challenges experience during the project implementation. The project goal is to scale up the advocacy on the prevention of sexual abuse against girl children and reduce the incidence of teenage pregnancy applying the promising practice of Volunteer Peer Advocates

Empowering Young Mothers and Preventing Teenage Pregnancy for a Stronger Tomorrow 

Introduction : Scaling Up Advocacy and youth-LED Action on the Prevention of teenage pregnancy, project of Yakap sa Kaunlaran ng Bata, Inc. (YKBI) envisioned empowering  teenage mothers in the Philippines to prevent repeat adolescent pregnancies. As a grassroots organization focused on child protection and community development in the CALABARZON region, YKBI recognized the pressing Issue of rising teenage pregnancies in certain communities. 

Our vision for this project was to empower teenage mothers and prevent further adolescent pregnancies in San Pablo City, Laguna Province, Philippines. We worked with a vulnerable group of girls and young women who became pregnant at an early age and faced immense challenges including stigma, lack of support, limited education and economic opportunities, and minimal access to health services.  

The implementation phase involved extensive collaboration with local government units, community leaders, and teenage mothers themselves to identify priority areas and design intervention strategies. A major milestone was the training of 30 teenage mothers as Volunteer Peer Advocates (VPAs), who were equipped with specialized knowledge and skills to serve as peer educators and advocates. These VPAs played a crucial role in conducting community education sessions. We made a big difference , reaching over 160 teenage mothers empowered, along with 133 parents and 69 duty bearers, and 913 young people.   Moreover, our advocacy led to the institutionalization of the Adolescent Health and Development Program, a testament to our collective success. 

Looking ahead, our vision is clear. Volunteer Peer Advocates, accredited by the San Pablo Youth Development Council, now stand at the forefront of change. Engaging in school-based advocacy and collaborating with barangays and the City Government. 

Despite challenges such as the COVID-19 pandemic and low participation rates, the project adapted by observing safety protocols, conducting home visits, and leveraging technology for online sessions and advocacy videos. Continuous education on family planning, mentoring sessions, and training on organizational and project management were provided to address risks and challenges faced by the VPAs. 

The project achieved significant positive impact, with a 5% decrease in teenage pregnancy cases in the project areas within a year, according to local health records. Over 90% of participating teenage mothers demonstrated increased knowledge about sexual and reproductive health and rights, with many returning to school or starting small businesses. Success stories like that of Elsie highlighted the transformative impact of the project, as she overcame challenges, completed high school, and became a committed Volunteer Peer Advocate empowering others in her community. 

Key lessons learned included the value of peer support, flexibility in adapting to community contexts, and the importance of multi-sectoral partnerships. The project’s success underscores the importance of grassroots initiatives in empowering marginalized youth and addressing systemic issues like teenage pregnancy. The stories of teenage mothers rising up as advocates and the project’s innovation in engaging young people demonstrate the power of investing in adolescent girls. 

In conclusion, the “Scaling Up Advocacy” project by YKBI demonstrates how grassroots initiatives can produce life-changing results by empowering marginalized youth. By continuously enhancing strategies and strengthening systems to amplify young mothers’ voices, there is immense potential for replication in other geographic areas facing similar challenges. Through collaboration and investment in adolescent girls, we can create a future where all youth are healthy, empowered, and hopeful. 

Help teens stay safe and chase their dreams by preventing teen pregnancy. Let’s empower  young moms too. You can make a difference by spreading awareness, providing access to contraceptives and education, and offering support and encouragement to young parents. Together, we can build a brighter future for our youth!