New videos launch for family life education in Vanuatu
04 October 2023
New videos highlighting consent and contraceptive choice are being launched today in Vanuatu to increase young people's access to sexual and reproductive health information and education.
The video project was supported by the Australian Government through the Australian NGO Cooperation Program and saw Family Planning Australia support Vanuatu Family Health Association's capacity in the digital space so they could reach more young people online with comprehensive sexuality education, known as family life education in many parts of the Pacific.
Family Planning Australia Manager International Program Meg Chard said she was proud to have worked with colleagues from Vanuatu Family Health Association to create these resources which are customised to the Vanuatu context.
"We know there is an unmet need for contraception and high rates of gender-based violence in Vanuatu and these resources have been made with young people, for young people," Ms Chard said.
"Around 19 per cent of women in Vanuatu have an unmet need for family planning, meaning they'd like to delay pregnancy or do not wish to get pregnant but at the same time are not using contraception. Family life education resources like these videos are critical to help young people access resources and education about contraception, consent and respectful relationships."
Family Planning Australia has a long history working across the Pacific and with the Vanuatu Family Health Association.
Attendees at the launch heard not only were the videos culturally appropriate and available in English and Bislama, but the engaging animations have also been developed with Vanuatu youth volunteers, local voice actors and radio station youth presenters.
The videos were developed in recognition of the high use of online formats by young people. They are suitable for social media, websites, webinars and in-person video education sessions and are targeted at youth aged 15 to 25 years old.
"We wanted to see these videos help increase young people's access to information and resources related to their sexual and reproductive health and rights. We have been working with Vanuatu Family Health since 2015 and in 2021 this developed into our shared Te Welu project.
"It's amazing that Vanuatu Family Health Association will be able to reach people they haven't before, and give young people access to information they can share with each other to have these important conversations," Ms Chard said."
View the videos on the Vanuatu Family Health Association Facebook page.
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