The Young Matters

The Young Matters (TYM)

Introduction

The Sarfoa Foundation is proud to present The Young Matters (TYM) program, a comprehensive initiative aimed at addressing the pressing issue of teenage pregnancy in the Obuasi community of the Ashanti Region.

This program is a response to the concerning statistics outlined in a UNFPA report, which revealed that between 2016 and 2020, Ghana recorded 542,131 pregnancies among adolescent girls aged 15-19 years, along with 13,444 pregnancies amongst young teenagers aged 10-14 years, with a significant portion of these cases occurring in the Ashanti Region.

Recognizing the urgency of this issue, The Young Matters (TYM) program seeks to implement three major projects to combat teenage pregnancy and promote reproductive health education.

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The Yen Kasa Project

The Yen Kasa Project aims to educate the youth of Obuasi through a quarterly module plan each year. This project will deliver comprehensive reproductive health education, including topics such as contraception, sexually transmitted infections (STIs), consent, and healthy relationships. By providing structured and engaging educational modules, we aim to empower young people with the knowledge and skills necessary to make informed decisions about their sexual and reproductive health.

The Bra Ha Project

The Bra Ha Project focuses on establishing connect points for the youth to seek advisory and reproductive health concerns. These connect points will serve as safe spaces where young people can access confidential and non-judgmental support and guidance on reproductive health issues. Trained counselors and healthcare professionals will be available to provide information, counseling, and referrals to appropriate services as needed.

The Aboafo Project

The Aboafo Project seeks to forge partnerships with state agencies, donor support, and development partners to tackle financial obligations and policy designs aimed at addressing the teenage pregnancy menace in the region. By mobilizing resources and advocating for policy reforms, we aim to create an enabling environment that supports the implementation of evidence-based interventions to prevent teenage pregnancy and support young parents in the community.

Our Focus

While the Ashanti Region bears the largest burden of adolescent pregnancies in Ghana, The Young Matters (TYM) program will initially focus on the Obuasi community. However, our long-term vision is to expand the reach of this program to other communities within the region and beyond, ensuring that all young people have access to the support and resources they need to thrive.