Meet Ruth, a youth activist in Kenya who leads advocacy efforts and meaningful youth engagement in the Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) space. In part 1 of this episode, CARE Canada’s Youth Champions sit down with Ruth and learn about the work she is doing and some of the ways the SHE SOARS* project is making change on the ground. Ruth explains barriers young women and girls in Kenya, Uganda and Zambia face when it comes to making decisions about their bodies and lives. Girls’ SRHR like access to contraception is often limited due to poverty, certain community attitudes and lack of young people’s voices in policy development. Youth are working to increase girls’ access to rights and opportunities through SHE SOARS.

*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

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.