Author: avidmaverick

THE WORLD YOUTH REPORT ON YOUTH CIVIC ENGAGEMENT 2015

Published once every two years by the UN Department of Economic and Social affairs (UN DESA), the World Youth Report on Youth Civic Engagement takes a good look at young people’s participation in economic, community and political life. The report offers and proposes unique and out of the box perspectives and ideas on youth engagement and participation. The report is also expected to generate dialogue, and serve as a tool for policy discussion and action between youth and government. 

The report provides insight on 3 thematic areas: economic, political and community engagement. The objective of the report basically is to provide a basis for policy discussions around youth engagement to ensure that young people are able to participate fully and effectively in all aspects of the societies in which they live.

HACEY Health Initiative Partners With World Heart Connect To Organize Teenagers Open Meeting

As part of  strategies towards fulfilling HACEY’s mission statement  which is “to empower and support women, children and young people through capacity building, advocacy, research and education to lead healthy lives”, and the girl sexual and reproductive health and leadership program the organization partnered with World Heart Connect an initiative based in Rivers State to organize a two-day event for children and teenagers to train young people on the values and knowledge they need to make healthy and positive decisions concerning their lives and equip them with life skills and health information to become focused, productive and well informed adults. The event held at the primary health centre Okwuzi, with over 60 children and teenagers in attendance.

ADVANCING WOMEN’S REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH OUTCOMES AND PRODUCTIVITY IN RURAL COMMUNITIES

Women (most especially young girls) are mostly disadvantaged when it comes to sexual and reproductive health outcomes, this is made worse when they have no education and/or no independent source of income as they come to the ‘negotiation table’ with no refusal/assertive skills as well as no form of preparedness for the outcome that follows their action or decision. A true life story narrated below helps to put this into perspective.

The West African Regional Advocacy Caucus

In partnership with PATH and Women Deliver, HACEY Health Initiative will host the West Africa caucus at the Women Deliver 4th Global Conference in May 2016. The caucus will bring together diverse stakeholders to discuss major priorities and strategies for strengthening political and financial commitments to girls’ and women’s health and well-being in West Africa. Emphasis will be on improving reproductive, maternal, newborn, child, and adolescent health (RMNCAH) and gender equality in SDG implementation and accountability efforts, and building on ICPD+20 and Beyond and Beijing+20 processes.

World AIDS Day 2015- #ACTNOW

Despite huge investments in spreading information about HIV/AIDS in Nigeria, national data indicates a low HIV testing rate- only...

No Boundaries- The PWDs Heroes Gathering

In line with the International Day of Persons With Disability (December 3rd) and the United Nations theme for this year – Inclusion Matters: Access and Empowerment for People of all Abilities, with support of Access Bank Plc and the United States Consulate, this event was held at Access Bank Plc Corporate Headquarters  to celebrate individuals, corporate organizations and civil society who have championed the cause of persons with disabilities in our society.

PRESS RELEASE: Nigerian development organization wins 50,000 US dollars With and For Girls international award for outstanding work

Development organization HACEY Health Initiative is one of just 20 organisations from around the world to receive an inaugural With and For Girls Award.
The With and For Girls Awards is a global initiative to identify and support strong development organisations working with and for girls.
The organisation – based in Nigeria and working throughout the country – is recognised for its work to provide sustainable solutions to close the inequality gap that limits women and girls’ access to health services and economic empowerment.

Have You Seen My Rights Campaign

As the world prepares to adopt the Sustainable Development Goals, it is important that young people play an active role in ensuring that their sexual health, rights and access to health services are effectively represented, supported and monitored in the 2030 agenda.

The Have You Seen My Rights Campaign is focused on goals 3,4 and 5 of the SDGs and advocates 5 pledges for the implementation of the goals.

With the consciousness of our nation’s inability to reach the targets of the Millennium Development Goals and the little focus given to young people’s sexual and reproductive health in national policies and strategies, youth at the consultation were enthusiastic about promoting the 5 pledges in the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

ÒDÒDÓ 

I could hear the voice faintly in my sleep but I could not pick out the words. Before I could figure out what was happening, a slap landed on my back forcing me to jump out of bed. My sleepy eyes were met with the excited voice of my friend Sade. She kept twisting her body and screaming, “Aduke is getting married. Let’s go watch the ceremony.” I tied my wrapper and we hurried down to Aduke’s compound.