By Lincoln G. Peters
In an effort to curb teenage pregnancies and promote women’s reproductive health choices, over 300 men and boys from Liberia’s most densely populated slums—New Kru Town and West Point—have completed an intensive two-day training. The capacity-building symposium, held on September 25–26, 2025, focused on engaging males as active partners in preventing teenage pregnancies and supporting family planning efforts.
The event, organized by Youth Arise 4 Development (YA4D) in partnership with the West Point Adolescents Initiative and generously supported by DKT International Liberia, was conducted in observance of World Contraceptive Day 2025. It brought together youth aged 15 to 35 for participatory sessions covering contraceptive methods, debunking myths, and practical demonstrations, including proper condom usage.
Throughout the program, participants received 300 packs of condoms, along with encouragement from local male role models who shared motivational testimonies emphasizing positive masculinity and responsible sexual behavior. Day one took place in West Point, while day two was hosted in New Kru Town, achieving 300 direct beneficiaries and indirectly influencing hundreds more within the community.
Key achievements of the symposium include equipping men and boys with practical contraceptive knowledge and fostering community dialogues that underscore shared responsibility in family planning. The initiative also strengthened partnerships between residents and local organizations committed to reproductive health education.
Jutomue Doetein, Executive Director of Youth Arise 4 Development, highlighted the urgency of this intervention amid Liberia’s alarmingly high teenage pregnancy rates, with nearly 30% of girls aged 15 to 19 already becoming mothers. He emphasized that vulnerable slum communities like West Point and New Kru Town face even greater challenges due to poverty, misinformation, and limited access to modern contraceptives.
“Men and boys play a crucial but often overlooked role in reproductive health. This program bridges that gap by inviting them to be proactive partners in preventing teenage pregnancies and promoting safe sexual practices. Empowering them is essential to tackling the root causes in our most vulnerable communities,” Mr. Doetein stated.
He also affirmed YA4D’s commitment to sustaining the momentum by launching peer educator networks, youth clubs, and continuous sexual and reproductive health rights (SRHR) programs to maintain male engagement in contraceptive awareness and use.
Aligning with this year’s global theme, “A choice for all.
Freedom to plan, power to choose,” the local initiative adopted the slogan: “Shared Choice, Shared Responsibility: Empowering Men and Boys for a Healthier Future,” underscoring the collective effort required to ensure reproductive health for all.
