SHE SOARS

Youth advocates unite: Breaking barriers in global sexual health and rights

• CARE Canada • Season 4 • Episode 1

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What drives youth advocates to champion Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) in Canada and globally? Youth Champions, Olivia and Shreya, kick off season 4 with special guest Jeremiah from the SHE SOARS* Youth Advisory Board in Zambia to share their motivations, personal stories and advice for young leaders looking to get more involved in SRHR and youth advocacy. The conversation highlights the importance of inclusive language, the power of youth-led solutions, and the value of engaging men and boys as allies in promoting gender equality. Together, they discuss how the SHE SOARS project is amplifying youth voices in Kenya, Uganda and Zambia, lessons learned, and upcoming youth-led initiatives in Canada you don’t want to miss.

*SHE SOARS, funded by Global Affairs Canada, is the Sexual and reproductive Health and Economic empowerment Supporting Out-of-school Adolescent girls’ Rights and Skills project. Learn more at: https://care.ca/shesoarsproject

Episode transcripts are available in French and English at: care.ca/shesoars.

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in the SHE SOARS podcast are the speakers’ own and do not necessarily reflect the views, opinions, standards and policies of CARE Canada. The SHE SOARS podcast is a youth-led initiative that provides space for young people to discuss global Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights with the purpose of raising awareness in Canada. Listeners acknowledge that the material and information presented in the podcast are for informational purposes only and do not constitute advice or services. The podcast is for private, non-commercial use and speakers do not necessarily reflect any organization they work for.

[00:00:00] Paniz: Hi, and welcome to SHE SOARS. Her voice. Her rights. 

[00:00:05] Jacqueline: We are CARE Canada's Youth Champions, a group of young people across Canada who are passionate advocates for Sexual and Reproductive health and rights (SRHR).

[00:00:13] Paniz: We're excited to discuss and raise awareness about young women's rights and choices in Kenya, Uganda and Zambia. ​

[00:00:18] Jacqueline: Together, we will explore how these global issues connect to our lives as Canadian youth and discover ways in which we can all take action. 

[00:00:26] Paniz: We will also talk about the SHE SOARS project, which improves access to health and education, which are areas we want to see change in. Join us!

[00:00:36] Shreya: Hello and welcome back to the SHE SOARS podcast. I'm one of your hosts, Shreya, and I am a Youth Public Engagement Champion (YPEC) at CARE Canada on the SHE SOARS project. I'm also joined by my co-host Olivia. Do you want to introduce yourself?

[00:00:50] Olivia: Yeah. Thank you. Hi everyone. It's so great to be back. My name is Olivia and I am also a Youth Champion with CARE Canada. So super excited for season four!

[00:00:59] Shreya: I love being a Youth Champion. I get to work with six of some of the coolest people that are young activists in the sexual and reproductive health space. I actually got motivated to do advocacy because of a personal experience that I had with my health.

[00:01:15] So I have something called PCOS, polycystic ovarian syndrome. And I had very irregular periods and very heavy periods and it was really taboo to discuss. A lot of times when I was younger, the different things I was experiencing normally in my community we're kind of hush hush.

[00:01:34] When we're on our period, we're not supposed to talk about it. And I wasn't experiencing it the same way that all of my friends or my classmates were. That had a really strong impact on me, mainly because I didn't feel like I had anyone to talk to.

[00:01:48] And then I found this whole world of people who raise awareness and have open conversations. And that's when I met this crew who has been able to help me navigate those things and provide a really safe space and this podcast. So I am so grateful to be here. And Olivia, do you want to share a little bit about what motivated you to work in this space too?

[00:02:09] Olivia: Yeah. Thank you so much. So I really got involved in Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights when I came to university. So one time in one of my courses I unexpectedly got my period and there were no accessible menstrual products on my campus. So I had to go home and I remember feeling so frustrated that I wasn't prepared. I wasn't able to access products. So I started a menstrual equity project on my campus and it opened a door up to this world of sexual health and rights. I started to get involved in sexual violence prevention and the menstrual health world. And I find myself here three years later working with the other YPEC members and it's been such an amazing experience. So I'm so excited to be here today talking on the podcast.

[00:02:53] Shreya: Yeah, one of the things that we get to do as part of this role is we collaborate with folks in Kenya, Uganda and Zambia, and today we have a really special guest here from the Youth Advisory Board that helps inform the different work that we do in terms of our advocacy in Canada. So I would love to welcome Jeremiah to the podcast, and Jeremiah, if you want to introduce yourself and tell us a little bit about what motivated you to get involved in this space and join the Youth Advisory Board.

[00:03:19] Jeremiah: Thank you so much. It's a pleasure to be here. I honestly can't believe that we are already in season four. My name is Lubumbe Jeremiah Mulanda, a Youth Advisory Board member on the SHE SOARS project from Zambia. And I started this work essentially because I grew up with a single mother and it was very difficult to speak about such issues. And more often than not, I would speak to my peers about this. Growing up, being around friends, most of the information that they would give me would not really be accurate about my Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights as well. Because of that I opted to ensure that not everyone has to go through what I had to go through but be a voice to be able to share accurate information about health and rights, of course, because we want young people to know the rights that they have, what they need to do and what they ought not to do. So that is where my motivation stems from and that is how I find myself on the Youth Advisory Board. And up to date, as a board, as a collective, we have done so much great work here in Zambia, in Kenya and in Uganda. And of course, collaborating with colleagues. 

[00:04:32] It has been great to partner, to see and understand the different perspectives between the global south and the global north. And just hearing your motivations and how the SHE SOARS project continues to be a platform where young people like ourselves, despite our diverse backgrounds, can come together and share our experiences, hopefully we can motivate our generation and the generations to come to be advocates for sexual and reproductive health.

[00:04:56] Olivia: Thank you so much. Yeah. It's so important to hear your passion so thank you so much for sharing.

[00:05:02] Shreya: So some of the activities that the SHE SOARS project is trying to tackle is sexual education, life skills and training for adolescent girls and boys so we can challenge harmful gender norms that might exist in this space. And then as well we really focus on positive masculinities and engaging men and boys as allies to support the right to bodily autonomy and decision-making. And then also supporting with national and regional policy advocacy and having training provided to healthcare providers to ensure that this project is having impact where it needs to and where communities are most vulnerable. 

[00:05:39] On the Canadian side, with the cohort of us six Youth Public Engagement Champions, a lot of that is taking all these findings in Uganda, Kenya and Zambia, and trying to translate that into how Canadian youth can get involved and support young people who might be struggling with understanding their sexual and reproductive health. I would also love to hear a little bit more about what the Youth Advisory Board does like any of the projects that you have gotten up to and what kinds of outcomes from SHE SOARS?

[00:06:11] Jeremiah: Beautiful. The Youth Advisory Board (YAB) on the SHE SOARS project provides the guidelines or the principles for meaningful youth engagement. Now, we all can agree to the fact that it's not enough to just say we are working for young people because young people should not only be viewed as beneficiaries but as equal partners in everything that concerns them. So the Youth Advisory Board plays that very critical role to ensure that when partners engage young people to do their planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation, young people are part of the process. And the Youth Advisory Board on the SHE SOARS project represents those hundreds and thousands of young people.

[06:52:00] But the other role as well that we play is to speak to our fellow young people to share our lived experiences and to encourage them to be able to seek sexual and reproductive health information and services. We have played a significant role, for example, when the SHE SOARS project just started, we had so much information addressing the needs, aspirations and priorities of young people. But the language in these documents was not communicating to the young people. There is a certain way that we understand information as young people. And the kind of places where we are implementing this project in certain countries these are very rural places where levels of education are very low and illiteracy levels are very high. So if you're going to have a document that has technical phrases and acronyms and all of those things, what you're essentially saying is this is not for young people. Because young people will not be able to understand.

[07:49:00] We as a Youth Advisory Board made strong recommendations to ensure that the language is inclusive. We've also carried out various capacity building sessions because one of the key things that we do is to ensure that partners are well equipped with understanding what meaningful youth engagement is. And not to tokenize it but ensure that it is a reality. And this happens at all levels of decision-making in the SHE SOARS project. We know that this is a buildup. They keep learning and we keep seeing that they're improving in their efforts to engage young people. But we also speak to the young people to ensure that when partners approach you and they're ready to engage you, you need to be ready. You need to ensure that you bring something to the table. You need to have done your research, you need to be knowledgeable and all of those things.

[00:08:34] But we also build the capacity of Youth Advisory Structures that sit in the communities where the SHE SOARS project is being implemented and they carry out advocacy work just like we do at a global level. We have peer educators who sit in our health facilities. We build their capacity as well. So really our role, to sum it up nicely, is to advise, and it's in the name ‘advisor,’ to advise the project on different activities to ensure that all of these represent the views, the ambitions and the perspectives of all young people in the project. 

[00:09:07] Shreya: Thank you so much for telling us all the amazing work that you're all doing. I am so inspired by the community that you have built and the work that you've done. And just hearing all the highlights and seeing all the photos and the campaigns that you're running, it's so impactful.

[00:09:24] Olivia: Yeah, Jeremiah, when you highlight that the YAB really pushed to have the inclusive language piece added into SHE SOARS. In every social media post we've created, it has always had that accessible language piece. And I think that has really made an impact on how Canadian youth absorb and how they are able to consume the media that we create. Because it's the exact same barriers that are faced for individuals in Canada when youth don't understand what's being put out or it's complicated or not easy to access then it creates an additional barrier in the information that they're receiving.

[00:10:00] So thank you so much for your work on that because it's really created a big impact in what we do.

[00:10:05] Jeremiah: I'm so, so happy to hear that because, you know, these are some of the things that adult partners take for granted. Even up to date, I still struggle with understanding certain acronyms. I've been in a meeting and I'm like, “Huh, what's that?” And I've been in this project since inception. We're in the fifth year now. So this is work that has to be very deliberate. And the beauty about it is that the partners have taken these lessons and we hope that they can implement them even in future programming that is coming because this is something that affects all young people. Even as governments speak, this is a struggle that we young people face. So this is a deliberate action for all players that inclusive language, as long as you're communicating to young people, is a priority.

[00:10:51] Olivia: Yeah, I agree. I think especially when we're talking about topics that have been labeled taboo as well, like sex and sexual health, as soon as there is a term or a word that youth don't understand, there is already so much fear and stigma that surrounds that, so they’re unlikely to reach out or ask clarifying questions or what that means. So when we take that pre-emptive step to make sure that youth are able to understand, it's already helping to make sure that they're receiving more education about what is happening around their own sexual health. 

[00:11:22] Jeremiah: I agree with you 100% as well. We need to demystify the conversations to allow young people to come in and participate, to voice out what they think should be done to allow young people to be equal players in the conversation. Another key thing is the issue of capacity because you cannot expect someone to do something without you having given them the opportunity to learn how to do it. That has been the principle with the Youth Advisory Board.

[00:11:50] It's not enough for us as young people to just sit and say, “Oh, we are not understanding.” Have you told them how you want them to communicate to you? That should be the conversation we should be having. And we have realized that when we as young people do that, when we as young people do not only think about the problem but also provide a solution, these partners do respond. These partners come to the table and say, “Oh, this is what you want done. Come on guys. We can do it. Let's work together.” And that is how we achieve sustainable development. That is how change is realized. It's not about pointing fingers at each other but it's about saying, “This is what the problem is and this is a solution we are offering.” And that is what we continue to do as a Youth Advisory Board. 

[00:12:31] Shreya: I'm so curious to hear also because you want to work on accessibility for this space: What are you really hearing in your friend groups or with your peers in regards to sexual and reproductive health? Maybe people who aren't as engaged yet, how do you communicate to them and ask them what their needs, desires and barriers are?

[00:12:52] Jeremiah: Perfect. That is a very important question and my response always remains the same that we need to get the boys and the men more involved. I don't know if you have noticed that especially around some of the advocates, the young people who are championing this, it's mostly females. The perception is that the women, the girls are more vulnerable, which I definitely agree. But that doesn't mean that the young people, the boys and men cannot come and participate as well. Because remember that you are affected directly or indirectly.

[00:13:27] On the SHE SOARS project we have a particular model, we call it engaging men and boys. We need to do that more often. Why? Because in a patriarchal setting where many of the activities we're implementing exist that system looks at men to have an upper hand to make the decisions for the household [and] even to make the decisions on behalf of girls and women. So we need to get the boys involved as well. Also, because sexual and reproductive health is for the men too. Men need to know how to take care of themselves. Boys need to know that when they start experiencing these changes in their bodies, this is what is happening. This is what it means. And I'm very deliberate about this. I speak to my friends about it. I speak at different gatherings and different events about the importance of the engagement of men and boys. We have an opportunity to prioritize that now. So it's time to begin to balance our programming to ensure that we really leave no one behind. But I'm also interested to hear what you both think about this. Is this true as well for the Canadian setting?

[00:14:35] Olivia: Yeah, I would 100% agree that we see a similar kind of issue in Canada with barriers involving men and boys in discussions around Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights. I think a lot of times our society enforces these really strict gender norms, and within those gender norms, it is consciously or subconsciously telling women that reproductive health is their responsibility.

[00:15:01] So in marriages and relationships it's kind of been labeled as a women's issue or a women's responsibility. And because of that, it then puts more burden on women to carry this kind of responsibility, but also it leaves men and boys out of these conversations and in the dark. So I think it is so fundamental to bring men and boys into these conversations because it alleviates this pressure and the stereotype that reproductive health is a women's issue. And also it is just general education around individuals' bodies that is not reserved for specific genders, that impacts every human regardless of their gender identity or sex. And it's so important and fundamental to be having these conversations because it breaks down stigma and reduces the taboo around reproductive health and rights. 

[00:15:52] As soon as we say that these issues only belong to a certain demographic, then that becomes a “them” problem. It becomes a “their problem” and it does not become an “us” problem. As soon as we wrap everyone into these conversations and as soon as we say, “Hey, this impacts us all. It is an issue that impacts humans all over the world.”

[00:16:08] Then it starts to flip your perspective on the issue. [You] start to say, “Oh, this does impact me and this is also my responsibility,” because we all have a role to play and we all have responsibility in saying that Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights are important and they impact everyone. So we 100% face that barrier and it would make my heart so happy to see more men and boys joining these conversations. In Canada, I think there is always more room to encourage men and boys to be a part of these conversations. 

[00:16:41] Shreya: I agree, and to think of some actionable ways that people can get involved, I find that when a person who has their period enters a space and announces that and says, “Hey, I am going through this, I’m menstruating right now,” I think a lot of times folks shy away from that or be like, “Oh okay.”

[00:16:59] And then they continue to mind their business. I would love to see a world where men and boys are carrying menstrual products with them or carrying an extra Tylenol or Advil on hand to help support their peers, their friends and their families who might be people who are struggling with their period as an example.

[00:17:20] But I also think that sexual and reproductive health has been labeled as something different than just healthcare. But it's a big portion of healthcare in itself. It's something that you need to know to understand your body, to take care of yourself and make sure that you are well. And I think that because there is that distinction and there is that genderized association, people don't realize that this is something that can affect them and will affect them at some point in their life.

[00:17:47] And because it hasn't affected them yet, they might not feel called into that conversation because they don't have maybe interest or knowledge to actually need to explore that space. So I think the next phases for the work that I would like to see us as Youth Champions doing is really calling people into that conversation prior to them having to go through some life-altering experience in order to be engaged in this space as well.

[00:18:16] And I really hope that we can help folks come up with actionable solutions for how they can be better allies and be better advocates and give people some sort of toolkit on how to be able to do that. We're actually working on an upcoming in-person campaign, which is going to be super exciting, as well as some Youth Advisory Board interviews and different storytelling pieces to really showcase the work that we're doing and the importance of it and how other people can get involved. That is going to be a really cool experience to be able to meet some of our listeners and people who haven't been engaged in this space just yet but who might be curious. 

[00:19:00] And this episode we talked about people who are not called into this conversation yet. Well, we're really trying to drive the narrative that every group needs a ‘sexpert.’ You need somebody who is passionate about sharing sexual health and knowledge amongst your friends, knowing misconceptions, knowing the facts, and having that sounding board for you to be able to seek support. So hopefully this in-person campaign will motivate people to be there for one another and to answer questions and have conversations about these things. 

[00:19:28] Olivia: So Jeremiah, is there anything specifically that you really wish you had information on before you entered the space as an SRHR advocate? What do you wish you knew then that you know now around Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights?

[00:19:42] Jeremiah: That's a really good question. Some good food for thought. I think that I wish I knew earlier that you don't have to necessarily be an expert because you are already. Your lived experience gives you that expertise regardless of your age. As long as you have gone through something like this, as long as you've seen someone else go through anything like this, you are an expert and by virtue of that you have the power to say something. It gives you enough room to be able to say something about this conversation. So I wish I knew that earlier because then I would've spoken up much earlier. But I'm glad that everything happened the way it did and that I found myself working on the SHE SOARS project with a group of amazing young people who are doing great things in their own right and a larger group of adults who are passionate about ensuring that what they went through as young people, we as this generation do not go through that, and they're doing their best to be able to help us.

[00:20:47] Olivia: Wow. Thank you so much. That is such a beautiful sentiment and I think that is so true. It's so easy to assume that you have to know everything or you have to have a certain education to be able to work in this field. But I loved what you said.

[00:21:04] You are the expert of your own sexual and reproductive health. You already have your own expertise in what your lived experiences are and there is so much power and value in being able to share that but also being able to be open in those conversations. So thank you. 

[00:21:19] Shreya: Absolutely. Also I feel like getting engaged in this space is hard but once you're in it you are so inspired by the people around you and the stories that you hear and the work that you're able to do and the impact that you're able to have. But what is your advice to young people who are maybe thinking about joining in on this advocacy journey and how should they approach it? What should they do?

[00:21:47] Jeremiah: Beautiful. Do it. Just start from wherever you are, whatever you have. It's much easier now, I must mention that, because of the area of social media you could simply just pick up the phone and do a video recording of your own opinion. Of course, it has to be factual. There has to be credibility in the message that you're sharing because you don't want to give out false information. Start from there. Right? Identify organizations in your community that align with your interests and begin to work with them. But my advice is that we as young people need to do more providing solutions. We shouldn't be problem-oriented such that when people hear that Jeremiah is coming they know that all that Jeremiah brings are problems. Because in my experience, working three years on the SHE SOARS project, and I think I stayed this long because I'm a solution-oriented young man, so I bring solutions to the table. Yes, I'll speak about the problems. I remind partners from where we are coming from. But after I do all of that, the next thing I'm speaking about are solutions.

[00:22:55] And these are solutions that are practical things that we can begin to do right away after this meeting. And that is what we need to do as young people. We need to focus our time and energy into thinking about: What are the solutions for the world's most pressing problems? That is what gives you relevance. There's a man I look up to who said something that caught my attention. He said, “You never find a statue of a critic.” If you know anything about critics they're always pointing out problems. But people lucky enough to be recognized by humanity in that kind of way where they mount a statue for you, it's because you brought solutions to the table. And these are solutions that change the course of humanity, that made people think better, work better, do better, live better. And that's what we ought to do as young people, is to bring solutions to the table. Not just problems, but solutions to the table. Also, it's about championing this work and taking it head on. There is so much that we can do as young people, so much great work that is already happening, but we need to take up this role with both hands and work with adult partners. That's my advice to young people. 

[00:24:05] Take it easy on yourselves. Have fun. I have had so much fun in the SHE SOARS project. I can't begin to speak about the wonderful memories that I have created, the beautiful people that I have met, the stories I have heard. And the most rewarding thing is to be able to have person walk up to you and say, “Because you walked this earth, because you did whatever you did, my life better.” There is nothing like that. Trust me, there is nothing like that. I have had such encounters before and it's really life-changing. After my most recent visit to one of the project sites, a certain young man walked up to me and he mentioned something that really touched my heart because I was speaking to these young people and I was telling them, “Look guys, your current situation does not determine your end, so you can do better.” And he walks up to me and says. “After what you've said, I now know that it's possible. Even just by looking at you, I now know that it's possible because if you can go through everything that you've gone through in your life and just standing right here, it's possible.”

[00:25:15]: And I was inspired to write something like this and I said, “To have gathered wisdom, not for pride, but to pass it on like light to those in the shadow, to have helped another breathe a little easier because your learning touch their life, that is the quiet triumph of a life well lived.” And I think that my life on the SHE SOARS project has been well lived because just by virtue of me standing up every day, going to all of these communities, speaking to many young people that touched their lives, it has made them want to participate even much more than what they're doing.

[00:25:49] And that's the quiet triumph of life. So I'm grateful to the SHE SOARS project for having invested in me as a boy. Now I'm living as a young man and to have been so kind and patient with the learnings, I have met so many amazing young people.

[00:26:04] Shreya: What a beautiful statement you said there, “To pass it on like light to those in the shadows.” That is such an amazing culmination of all of the work you've done over the last few years and the impact that you've had. I am so grateful to know you and to hear from you. Thank you so much that really touched my heart. I really appreciated that.

[00:26:27] Jeremiah: Thank you.

[00:26:29] Olivia: Wow. Yes, I have chills. That was so beautiful. Jeremiah. You should be so incredibly proud of all of the work you've been able to accomplish and I hope that you do know what you do positively impacts those around you.

[00:26:43] Shreya: 100%. Beautiful.

[00:26:45] Jeremiah: Thank you, you guys are so sweet. Thank you so much. I really appreciate it. And please continue doing what you're doing. The SHE SOARS podcast is really a big thing here. Everyone listens to it. We're always encouraging people to tune in and to send suggestions. So you guys are really doing great job. But for now, please take care and please continue speaking about the wonderful work that we're doing. Thank you. 

[00:27:07] Shreya: Thank you so much. 

[00:27:09] Olivia: Thank you so much for listening and welcome to season four. We are so excited to have you here and if you have any feedback or any topics you want us to be discussing or listening to please never hesitate to reach out to us on our social media.

[00:27:22] Shreya: Other than that, feel free to continue to stay engaged. Thank you so much for listening today to the SHE SOARS podcast and these are your hosts Shreya and Olivia signing off.

[00:33:15] Jacqueline: Thanks for listening to SHE SOARS. If you liked this episode, please share it on social media, connect with us in the comments or give us a like.

[00:27:42] Paniz: Make sure to catch our next episode by subscribing to our channel and following us wherever you get your podcasts.

[00:27:48] Jacqueline: Follow @CARECanada on Instagram for updates on our show and the project.

[00:27:53] Paniz: SHE SOARS stands for Sexual and reproductive Health and Economic empowerment, Supporting Out-of-school Adolescent girls’ Rights and Skills in Kenya, Uganda and Zambia.

[00:28:02] Jacqueline: The project is funded by Global Affairs Canada. Check out our global partner organizations: The Center for Reproductive Rights and Restless Development for even more project updates. 

[00:28:12] Paniz: Thanks again for listening. Until next time!