Make Way Program: Exchange Knowledge and Skills on SRH

The Make Way program is operated by the Netherlands-based organization Liliane Fonds in Rwanda, Uganda, Ethiopia, Kenya, and Zambia, aims to ensure that young people are able to realize their sexual reproductive health rights and make informed decisions about relationships, their bodies, family planning, sexuality, and wellbeing.

The Make Way program, operating since 2021 in Rwanda, aims to address these issues through contextualized approaches, creating safe spaces for youth with compounded vulnerabilities to discuss their experiences and advocate for meaningful youth engagement.

‘Tackle misconceptions and stigma’

Speaking during a side event at the just concluded Women Deliver conference, which included a workshop on SRHR and disability, on July 21, Shrushti Mahamuni, the SRHR Advocacy Advisor through Make Way Program at Liliane Fonds, highlighted that in many societies, people with disabilities (PWDs) are marginalized. Their sexual and reproductive rights are often neglected.

She said there is a prevalent misconception that these individuals do not have sexual desires or the need for reproductive health services, declaring that Liliana Fonds tackles the issues and works towards breaking the barriers in health systems that prevent PWDs from accessing quality services.

During the event, Liliana Fonds and partners organize sessions, games, and a marketplace to showcase their work on disability and SRHR, exchange ideas, and increase awareness of intersectionality and inclusion.

Patrick Tuyishimire with his fellows during a group discussion in the workshop

Ariane Dusenge, the Country Coordinator of Make Way, said that the challenges faced by persons with disabilities are compounded by inequities stemming from various factors, such as poverty, lack of education, and discrimination.

Women with disabilities also face issues like forced sterilization and limited access to abortion services, leaving them vulnerable and without bodily autonomy, Dusenge said, adding that there is a lack of tailored solutions for different categories of people with disabilities. Programs and initiatives are often generalized and may not address specific challenges faced by individuals from different contexts.

Dusenge highlighted the importance of considering intersectionality in understanding the unique challenges faced by people with disabilities, declaring that by understanding the various identities and contexts of people with disabilities, tailored advocacy and solutions can be developed to address their needs effectively.

Some participants during a group work during the workshop

RCI’s representatives and participants during group work in the workshop

At the workshop, RCI representatives had the opportunity to introduce and promote the method of delivering knowledge about sexual and reproductive health by using a pair of male and female dolls made by the Deaf Club in Hue. It is known that RCI has tested and successfully applied this method during knowledge training for youth with disabilities within the framework of the Body Talk project (Vietnam). Workshop participants showed great interest in disseminating knowledge through the use of real models and expressed their desire to cooperate to spread the effectiveness of this method to other countries.

(Source: Liliane Fonds)

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