Improving health and gender equality among very young adolescents: Harnessing the power of FBOs

In this webinar sponsored by USAID’s MOMENTUM Country and Global Leadership we explored how two faith-based organizations in Bangladesh implemented gender transformative approaches to improve health and gender equality among very young adolescents (VYAs), their families, and communities. Representatives from World Renew and LAMB shared their experiences implementing Save the Children’s evidence-based Choices, Voices, Promises intervention and lessons learned that can be applied for future locally-led very young adolescent programming. Reaching this age group—youths aged 10 to 14—is critical to lay the foundation for positive reproductive health outcomes, to address inequitable gender attitudes and behaviors before they are cemented, and to prevent early marriage and childbearing. Presenters included Dr. Bapon Mankhin, Director, Community Health and Development Program, LAMB; Shagota Chisim, Capacity Development Manager, World Renew Bangladesh; Meroji Sebany, Adolescent and Reproductive Health Advisor, Save the Children, United States. The discussion was moderated by Liza Talukder, Project Management Specialist at the USAID Bangladesh Office of Population Health and Nutrition.