Support for Girls
The life of girls in sub-Saharan Africa is strongly shaped while they are still young. In many developing countries, girls are married at the age of 14 and shortly afterwards they already expect their first child. More then 14 million girls between 15 and 19 years of age give birth every year (more >). Teenage pregnancies do not only force them to quit school but also brings along great health hazards: Teenage girls have a doubled risk to die during pregnancy or birth.
With our development projects and advocacy work, DSW increases awareness in Europe and in Africa itself and advocates for educational opportunities. Our objective is to break through the circuit of unwanted pregnancy, school dropouts, unemployment and poverty. We aim to empower women and adolescents to live a healthy and self-chosen life.
Fight Fistula
Many girls in Ethiopia become pregnant in their teens. As their bodies are not fully mature and because health care is inadequate, especially in rural areas, these girls often suffer childbirth-related injuries such as fistula. An obstetric fistula is a hole, caused by prolonged obstructed labour, causing damage to the tissues of the vagina, the bladder and rectum, leaving women incontinent, ashamed and ostracized from society. Around 9,000 new cases occur every year in Ethiopia, representing the highest prevalence of fistula world-wide. The condition occurs disproportionately among impoverished girls and women, especially those that live far from medical services.
more >
From Policy to Action: Providing Safe Motherhood and Reproductive Health Services to Young People in Kenya
Despite increasing global and national attention on the fifth Millennium Development Goal (MDG) (reducing maternal mortality), Kenya has been identified as one of eight countries in Africa that have made no progress in reducing maternal deaths. The limited capacity of the health system, combined with poor community participation in maternal health interventions, undermines efforts to make motherhood safer.
more >
Working Together for Decent Work
DSW’s newest regional project is an excellent example of our integrated approach to addressing the needs of vulnerable populations. This 3-year programme will work to improve the health and livelihoods of those excluded from the formal labour market, especially women and youth. By empowering individuals, supporting informed decision-making, and promoting innovative and successful approaches, it will support worldwide effort to ensure decent work, social protection and inclusion for all members of society. Using the context of informal employment as a strategic entryway, activities will address critical issues such as gender equality and sexual and reproductive health.
more >
Fit for Future: Addressing the Sexual and Reproductive Health of Young Women in the Informal Sector in Tanzania
Young women in the informal sector are a highly vulnerable group; with low earnings and limited education and literacy, they face an uncertain future. Most livelihoods opportunities are closed to them, resulting in a vicious cycle of low productivity, low income and inaccessible to resources. At the same time, they lack information about sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) and have limited access to comprehensive SRH services. Their vulnerable position puts them at high risk for harassment and abuse, HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted infections (STI), unwanted pregnancy, and discrimination.
more >
