#1 Impact of COVID-19 on EUP, child marriage and access to education

Tuesday, 27 October 2020 at 14:00 Central Africa Time

The COVID-19 pandemic has had an immediate impact on issues such as access to education, child marriage and teenage pregnancy, making the need for targeted messaging and information for young people more relevant than ever.

#2 Young people’s role in reducing EUP

Thursday, 29 October at 14:00 Central Africa Time

Young people represent a group particularly affected by EUP, so raising their awareness and mobilizing their energy for change is critical. Any approaches to preventing and reducing EUP must include young people’s voices in order to be impactful.

Moderator: Charles Draecebo, Project Coordinator, UNESCO (Uganda)

Speakers:

Dululu Hlatshaneni, Deputy Director, Social Cohesion, Department of Basic Education (South Africa)

Melele Hussein, Vice President, AfriYAN ESA (Tanzania)

Moliehi Molupe, CSE Teacher and Lets’ Talk EUP National launch Campaign Programme Director –2019 (Lesotho)

#3 Addressing increases in gender-based violence during the pandemic

Tuesday, 3 November at 14:00 Central Africa Time

All types of violence against women and girls, particularly domestic violence, has increased as a result of the COVID-19 global pandemic. This is likely to be a hard topic to discuss, but is an essential issue to both acknowledge and begin a dialogue around.

#4 Strengthening parent-child communication: how to talk about sexual health and mental/emotional well-being

Thursday, 5 November at 14:00 Central Africa Time

Parents and families have the greatest influence on adolescents. They love their children and want the best for them. But sometimes a lack of knowledge or resources can limit their ability to protect their daughters from EUP.  Providing parents and adolescents with the necessary tools to engage in informed discussions around sexual health is key for the prevention of EUP.

Moderator: Ruvheneko Parirenyatwa, Radio and TV Show Host (Zimbabwe)

Speakers:

Maria Bakaroudis, Comprehensive Sexuality Education Specialist & Disability Focal Point UNFPA East and Southern Africa Regional Office (South Africa)

Lucy Kimondo, Deputy Director of Population, National Council for Population and Development (Kenya)

Chikondi Njaya, President, Afriyan Chapter Malawi (Malawi)

Precious Nompumelelo Dlamini, Acting Director, Khulisa Umntfwana (Eswatini)

#5 Access to CSE and youth SRH services, including contraception

Tuesday, 10 November at 14:00 Central Africa Time

Access to SRH services, which was already limited, has been further impacted by the global pandemic, and CSE has been a debated and contested topic in the past few months in many ESA countries. Urgent action is required at all levels of society to protect the future of young people in the region.

Moderator: Maps Maponyane, Actor, TV host and philanthropist (South Africa)

Speakers:

Ms. Fatuma Kamramba, Child Development Specialist and Manager of National Child Helpline (Zanzibar)

Kelvin Lubeya Ngoma, Country Director, REPSSI (Zambia)

Zandile Masangane, Nurse Midwife, MOH Coordinator for Adolescent and Youth Health Programs, MOH SRH Unit (Eswatini)

#6 Continuing education in the case of EUP: re-entry policies and reaching out-of-school youth

Thursday, 12 November at 14:00 Central Africa Time

Many young girls and adolescents are continuously forced out of schooling or unable to complete their education due to pregnancy and parenthood. This is a serious issue across the region, with varying laws, policies and support systems in place which have a significant impact on young women’s lives.

Speakers:

Ekenia T Chifamba, Girls Rights Activist & Founding Director of Shamwariyemwanasikana (Zimbabwe)

Adeline Mahoro, Fashion Designer and Entrepreneur (Rwanda)

Muzi Ndlovu, Director of Health Promotion, DBE (Zimbabwe)

Ayesha Wentworth, Deputy Director, Directorate: Programmes and Quality Assurance, Ministry of Education, Arts and Culture (Namibia)