Member Associations

The Planned Parenthood Association of Sierra Leone (PPASL), established in 1959, works on a range of serious sexual and reproductive health (SRH) issues to improve people's health and quality of life. A key focus is to improve access to maternal health care, to reduce the risk of maternal and infant death. PPASL accesses the community through 5 service points, 12 workplace outreach projects, and 3 youth centres, via a 40-strong permanent staff team, backed by nearly 300 volunteers, 9 community-based distributors (CBDs) and a Youth Action Movement membership of 150. There is a 90% prevalence of female genital mutilation (FGM) in the country, and finding ways to handle the attendant psychological and physical trauma is one of the organization’s major challenges. Much of PPASL’s work is directed towards behaviour change communication (BCC) among community leaders, police and army personnel and Muslim and Christian groups. Safe motherhood, family planning, and the sensitisation of young people to SRH concerns are also central to the direct services which PPASL provides.    The Member Association works in partnership with government health and development ministries and the Sierra Leone Armed Forces Hospitals. Non-governmental organization (NGO) partners include the Reproductive Health Service, CHASL, MSSL, National AIDS Secretariat/SHARP and the Marie Stopes Society. PPASL receives financial support from UNFPA, UNICEF, UNAIDS, the Global Fund for HIV/AIDS, Plan International, MOHS & RH UNIT, Marie Stopes Society, SL Red Cross Society and Action Aid.  Contacts Website: www.ppasl.org Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/454639337890032/

The Israel Family Planning Association (IFPA) is Israel's leading organization advancing the human right to sexual health. 'Open Door' is a national network consisting of 14 information, counselling and treatment centres. The centres deal with issues of adolescence, such as intimacy, love, prevention of sexual violence, and healthy and responsible sexual behaviour. They serve as open and safe places for young people, in particular at-risk individuals. 'Open Door' serves Jews and Arabs, secular and religious, native Israelis and new immigrants, in a variety of languages and with cultural sensitivity. It provides accessibility to individuals with disabilities. The service providers are mostly volunteers who have completed special training and certification. Their work is monitored and guided appropriately. 'Open Door' centres uniquely adapted for the Arab society are active in Nazareth, Haifa, Be'er Sheva, and Umm Al-Fahem. 'Open Door' is included in the World Health Organization (WHO) list of best preventative practices for youth in the world. For over a decade, IFPA has been operating a unique and comprehensive certification service for professionals from the Arab sector as sex educators. More than a thousand graduates of this certification programme promote and disseminate information and counselling on sexual health to young people, parents and teachers. IFPA runs a national centre which offers a comprehensive, 300-hour certification programme for sex educators. It has so far trained over 2000 professionals. The centre also offers an International Innovation Award for the leading sex educator certification programme for individuals with physical or sensory disabilities. There are additional courses and continuing education activities for different groups of the population, tailored to suit the target audience and its needs. IFPA operates a community outreach centre which organizes workshops, lectures, and seminars for all sectors of the population on topics of education and the promotion of healthy sexuality, in Hebrew, Arabic, Russian and Amharic. These take place in schools, schools, universities and the army and in absorption, youth, women’s, community, and welfare centres and centres for individuals with disabilities. A unique project, Empowering Specially-Enlisted Women Soldiers (Hagam), offers workshops for young vulnerable women, preparing them for life and social integration.  In the past 5 years, aided by this initiative, 4500 specially-enlisted young women soldiers successfully completed full army service. The Information Center provides access to continuously updated professional information, in topics related to healthy sex, in Hebrew, English, Arabic, and Russian.  The information in our extensive database is unparalleled anywhere in Israel, and includes lesson plans, instructional videos, presentations, group activities, and more.   Contacts Website: www.opendoor.org.il Facebook  (English): https://www.facebook.com/IFPAOpenDoor Facebook (Hebrew): https://www.facebook.com/opendoorIFPA