The Chipembere Community Development Organization (CCDO) says young people and adolescent girls remain at great risk if they lack adequate information and access to sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) services.

CCDO Executive Director Dalitso Chiwayula said many young people in rural areas are forced to seek SRHR information and services from unsafe sources due to limited access to expert guidance in hospitals.

He made the remarks on Thursday during a two-day staff orientation for the “Amplifying Adolescent Young People’s Voice on Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights” project, valued at US$50,000 (about K87.5 million).

“When the youth lack information and services, they seek help elsewhere — including youth clubs — instead of health facilities where there are qualified experts,” said Chiwayula.

Chiwayula said lack of correct SRHR information exposes many young people to unsafe sex, early pregnancies, and early marriages.

“There are a lot of challenges, especially among youths who fail to access services such as PrEP and condoms. They become more vulnerable to HIV and other STIs,” he said.

He added, “It was necessary for our staff to have a deeper understanding of the project because they will be trainers of trainees who will equip peer educators with knowledge and advocate for improved services.”

The one-year initiative seeks to create demand and promote access to inclusive SRHR information and services for adolescents and young people in rural communities of Malawi.

The project will roll out in Traditional Authorities Bvumbwe, Nchiramwera, and Maggie in Thyolo District, with support from HIVOS through the Regional SRHR Fund, and funding from SIDA.

The project will also target sex workers by equipping them with climate-smart livelihood skills, such as solar energy systems, tailoring, and computer literacy, to enhance their financial independence.

One of the community SRHR facilitators, Shy Ali, emphasized the importance of implementers fully understanding the project before engaging young people.

“The youth today are dynamic and exposed to various information sources, especially through social media,” Ali said. “We need to give them a platform to articulate their issues and demand their rights and services from providers.”

Participant and CDO Project Officer Sandrina Chaplain said the orientation was vital for boosting staff confidence and understanding of key SRHR frameworks and policies.

“This training helps us gain the knowledge and confidence needed to effectively engage beneficiaries and make the project impactful,” Chaplain said.