Esnart: “Before joining the youth club, I didn’t know where to get help. I was afraid to ask. ..
At just 22 years old, Esnart Julius from Group Village Head Nkando in Mulanje had long struggled with limited access to contraceptives and accurate information on sexual and reproductive health (SRH).
Like many adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) in her community, she lived in silence unaware of her rights, uncertain about where to seek support, and afraid to speak out.
This lack of awareness put many girls at risk of unintended pregnancies and unsafe abortions, further endangering their futures.
But Esnart’s life took a transformative turn when she joined a youth club supported by the “Raising Voices for Change: A Summon to Promote SRHR Access in Rural Mulanje” project, implemented by Chipembere Community Development Organization with support from Amplify Change.
The project aims to increase individual awareness of SRHR, including safe abortion as a human right, and to empower AGYW to understand and confidently demand their reproductive health rights.
Through peer-led discussions and youth-friendly services, Esnart gained the courage to learn more about her body and her rights. Encouraged by the knowledge and support she received from Chipembere peer educators, she began using contraceptives and quickly became an advocate among her peers.
“Before joining the youth club, I didn’t know where to get help. I was afraid to ask. Now I encourage other young women to take charge of their health. I talk openly about contraceptives and the benefits they bring,” Esnart shared.
Her story is an example of how access to accurate SRHR information and safe spaces can transform lives. Esnart is now not just a beneficiary of the project, she is a vocal advocate, breaking the silence that once held her and many others back.
The “Raising Voices for Change: A Summon to Promote SRHR Access in Rural Mulanje” project continues to reach more AGYW across Mulanje through community engagement, peer education, and youth-friendly outreach.
By empowering girls like Esnart to know and demand their rights, Chipembere is not only protecting futures, it is building a generation of confident, informed young women ready to lead.