Tacloban City – Save the Children Philippines, in partnership with the European Union, WESADEF, and LEFADO, launched an empowering initiative called Project ADDVOICE in Eastern Visayas today. The project aims to create safer and more inclusive environments for young adolescents in Mayorga, MacArthur, Abuyog, Javier, Gandara, Matuguinao, Pagsanjan, and San Jorge.
At the grand launch held in Tacloban City’s Summit Hotel, key stakeholders, government officials, and community leaders gathered to mark this significant milestone. Project ADDVOICE will provide comprehensive programs and services focusing on sexual and reproductive health rights (SRHR), gender equality, and child protection to address critical issues faced by young adolescents, particularly girls.
With teenage pregnancy and sexual violence against children as pressing challenges in the region, Project ADDVOICE comes at a crucial time. The initiative will equip young adolescents with the knowledge, skills, and resources necessary to make informed decisions about their sexual and reproductive health while protecting themselves from violence.
Atty. Alberto Jesus Muyot, the Chief Executive Officer of Save the Children Philippines, expressed gratitude to the European Union for their generous support and partnership with WESADEF, LEFADO, DOH, POPCOM, DepEd, DSWD and the LGUs of Mayorga, MacArthur, Abuyog, Javier, Gandara, Matuguinao, Pagsanjan, and San Jorge in making ADDVOICE a reality. He emphasized the importance of collaboration in creating a better future for the young adolescents of Eastern Visayas.
Over the next three years, Project ADDVOICE will focus on community mobilization, capacity building of service providers, and strengthening local government mechanisms for meaningful adolescent participation in SRHR and child protection programs. By bridging gaps in access to quality services and age-appropriate information, the project aims to empower young individuals and foster their active engagement in their communities.
Eastern Visayas faces unique challenges, such as limited access to Adolescent-Friendly Health Facilities and insufficient data on adolescent sexual and reproductive health. However, through Project ADDVOICE, Save the Children Philippines is committed to overcoming these obstacles and driving positive change.
As the launch event concluded, participants expressed their excitement and anticipation for the transformative impact of ADDVOICE on the lives of young adolescents in Eastern Visayas. Save the Children Philippines remains dedicated to working alongside communities, government agencies, and civil society organizations to empower young adolescents, advocate for their rights, and create a violence-free and inclusive society where every child can thrive.
