Monrovia, Liberia – In honor of World Contraceptive Day 2025, a group called “Youth Arise 4 Development” (YA4D), working with the West Point Adolescents Initiative and with kind assistance from DKT International Liberia, organized a two-day awareness and engagement campaign in September that empowered more than 300 men and boys in West Point and New Kru Town.
This year, “A choice for all” is the global theme. The activity theme, “Shared Choice, Shared Responsibility: Empowering Men and Boys for a Healthier Future,” was localized to include the freedom to plan and the power to choose.
Nearly three out of ten adolescent girls (ages 15 to 19) in Liberia have started having children, indicating the country’s still concerning rates of teenage pregnancy (LDHS).
Additionally, poverty, disinformation, and restricted access to modern contraception contribute to some of the highest rates of teenage childbirth and fatherhood in vulnerable communities like West Point and New Kru Town.
Despite their crucial role in supporting women’s reproductive choices and using contraceptives, men and boys continue to be under-engaged in initiatives that typically target women and girls.
In order to close the gap, the initiative positioned boys and men as proactive collaborators in encouraging healthy sexual behavior and averting adolescent pregnancies.
The two-day awareness event included seminars on the benefits, myths, and methods of contraception; hands-on condom usage demonstrations; the distribution of 300 condom packs to males and girls between the ages of 15 and 35; and inspirational testimonies from local male role models emphasizing responsible behavior and positive masculinity.
Reaching the full target of 300 direct beneficiaries and indirectly influencing hundreds of women, families, and community members, Day 1 was hosted at West Point, while Day 2 was held in New Kru Town.
The main results of the day-long activities include: increased male involvement in preventing adolescent pregnancies and supporting women’s reproductive health choices; improved partnerships and conversations within communities to promote shared responsibility in family planning; practical knowledge of contraceptives and safe sexual practices. 300 participants received free condoms and learned how to use them correctly.
Speaking after the awareness, Jutomue Doetein, Executive Director of Youth Arise 4 Development (YA4D) said that the initiative is a turning point in attempting to engage men and boys in family planning conversations.
In the most vulnerable neighborhoods, he claimed, gaining knowledge will empower young people to address one of the main reasons of adolescent pregnancy.
With the creation of peer educator networks, youth clubs, and continuing SRHR initiatives, YA4D and the West Point Adolescents Initiative will build on the momentum and guarantee ongoing male participation in contraceptive awareness and administration.
Reported by: Prince Saah
