At the heart of IPPF’s approach is the belief that young women and girls should be empowered in order to make their own choices about their happiness, health and development, including sex and pregnancy.

One of the components of the initiative was the Girls Decide competition.

The competition was designed to support IPPF’s young volunteers to implement activities that promote  positive approaches to girls’ sexuality, and aim  to improve their confidence to make decisions with regard to issues around pregnancy.

Selected proposals received small grants ranging from USD $3,000 up to USD $10,000 and are also offered technical support from IPPF.

Examples of the winners:

Namibia: sensitising girls about the availability of these services and the importance of seeking sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services from the YHFS clinics.

The youth group established 3 groups of 15 girls. Each group focused on a specific medium of information delivery, e.g. radio, one on schools outreach and the third on community information services. 

The 3 groups developed their own materials and used them when conducting information sessions. The girls held information sessions with other girls on SRH giving specific attention to types of contraceptive methods, providing age appropriate information, encouraging girls to choose to be sexually healthy, giving girls information so that they can establish a healthy sexual identity.

Togo: promoting young women and girls' sexual rights

The Togo Member Association's youth group made 5 radio programmes called ‘Gâteau de vie'. They discussed the situation of young women and girls in Togo, and explained their rights to freedom of expression,  SRH services and sexuality education.