Indigenous knowledge to power

This project aims to increase the enjoyment of sexual and reproductive and mental health-related human rights by the most vulnerable and Indigenous rights holders. This includes young women adolescent girls 2SLGBTQI+ and youths living with disabilities in target communities in Zambia. Project activities include: (1) increasing the use of locally driven gender-sensitive Indigenous knowledge by rural youths particularly women adolescent girls 2SLGBTQI+ and youths living with disabilities; (2) enhancing gender-sensitive capacity of vulnerable youths especially young women and adolescent girls to understand their own sexual reproductive health rights and mental health; and (3) training and mentoring for both men and women teachers and health workers to support youths in addressing mental health and sexual reproductive health barriers in the targeted communities in Zambia. The project aims to raise awareness on sexual and reproductive health and rights services amongst 2 200 women and adolescent girls and 1 100 men and adolescent boys including 2SLGBTGI+ youths and youths living with disabilities aged from 15 to 30 years old.

The expected outcomes for this project include: (1) increased equal participation of rural remote and Indigenous youth particularly young women adolescent girls 2SLGBTQI+ and youth with disabilities in addressing sexual reproductive health and mental health challenges in target communities; and (2) increased leveraging of locally driven culture and gender-sensitive Indigenous knowledge by rural youth particularly young women adolescent girls 2SLGBTQI+ youth with disabilities and target communities.