Spotlight on IYAFP Grantees and their Projects

The SAFE abortion project was funded by the Guttmacher Institute which focused on advocating for and ensuring access to safe abortion services globally.

IYAFP and her members implemented varying safe abortion projects in Liberia with Youth Network for Positive Change, YOUNETPO, Activate Action, Kenya, and The YP Foundation, India.

Key elements of the project included: 

• Raising awareness about the importance of safe and legal abortion access as a fundamental reproductive right.
• Providing comprehensive education and training to young people, healthcare providers, and communities on safe abortion practices and related healthcare.
• Working with policymakers to create supportive legal and regulatory environments for safe abortion services.
• Engaging with communities to reduce stigma and misconceptions around abortion, promoting an environment where individuals can make informed choices about their reproductive health.
• Celebrating International Safe Abortion Day.

ACTIVATE ACTION, KENYA

The project focused on increasing awareness and access to safe abortion among adolescent girls and young women in Homa Bay, Kenya. The campaign aimed to highlight the importance of safe abortion as a fundamental human right, provide accurate information to dispel myths and misconceptions surrounding safe abortion, empower young women with the knowledge and resources necessary to make informed decisions about their reproductive health, and advocate for policies and laws that protect and expand access to safe abortion.

As part of the campaign, the activities conducted included a community dialogue session, a Twitter (X) space event, and a peaceful protest on international safe abortion day (November 28th, 2023).

The outcome of this campaign in Kenya was the successful awareness raised by Activate Action on the importance of safe abortion access, accurate information, and resources, enabling them make informed decisions about their reproductive health.

YOUTH NETWORK FOR POSITVE CHANGE, YOUNETPO, LIBERIA

IYAFP partnered with the Youth Network for Positive Change (YOUNETPO), Liberia to reduce abortion restrictions and promote equity. The campaign’s goal was to increase access to information on safe abortion, promote access to modern contraceptives, and ensure equity in accessing abortion services.

Some of the activities done included inception meetings, town hall meetings, consultative meetings with lawmakers, drafting of a petition that outlined the barriers women faced in accessing safe abortion services and provided justifications for amending the law to reduce these risks, and commemoration of international safe abortion day.

One of the outcomes of the project was the reduction of stigmatization and the creation of a safe and supportive environment that allowed girls and young women openly share their personal experiences related to abortion stigmatization.

THE YP FOUNDATION, INDIA

IYAFP partnered with the YP Foundation which developed a community-led, youth-centered policy engagement toolkit for advocating non-judgmental and affordable access to safe abortion services and information, with a focus on the Indian states of Assam and Kerala. The project also sought to increase awareness of the legal and medical aspects of abortion in the Indian context and amplify narratives from historically marginalized communities.

The outcome of this was the successful development of a comprehensive “Guide For Abortion Rights Engagement” toolkit in four languages, making it accessible to a wide range of users in India.

Download Toolkits Here:

IYAFP along with Abortion Data worked on developing a safe abortion toolkit that safe abortion trainers and young activists who are interested in training young people in evidence-driven abortion advocacy, abortion rights, and movement can make use of.

The toolkit is a user-friendly document with evidence-based data and information to guide young people in their advocacy.