Every year on September 26, the world celebrates International Contraception Day, an opportunity to highlight the importance of family planning in promoting the well-being of families and communities. With this in mind, SaCoDé organized a mass awareness campaign in seven provinces of Burundi, as part of its “Hinduka Uhindure Abandi” project, which means change and help others to change.

Family planning: a crucial issue for community development

Family planning plays a central role in the sustainable development of communities. By offering families the possibility of planning and spacing births, it helps to improve maternal and child health, promote the education of young girls, and encourage greater participation by women in economic and social life.

It also contributes to the reduction of unwanted pregnancies and unsafe abortions, phenomena that have dramatic consequences on women's health and hamper community development. SaCoDé, in its commitment to community development and reproductive health, organized this campaign on September 26, 2024 through the screening of educational videos. The videos were screened in Gitega, Karusi, Cibitoke, Ruyigi, Ngozi, Kirundo and Muyinga. Each video highlighted the benefits of family planning and explained the different contraceptive methods available, while emphasizing the positive impact of their adoption on family and community well-being.

Targeting young people and women for a lasting impact

The initiative mainly targeted women and teenagers of childbearing age, in particular members of the Village Savings and Credit Associations (VSLA) supported by SaCoDé. This choice is explained by the need to raise awareness among this segment of the population, who often face challenges in accessing reproductive health information and services.

Adolescents, in particular, represent a key population, as their early awareness of these issues can have a lasting impact on their future and that of their families. VSLAs, as community structures for self-help and economic development, play a crucial role in transmitting information within rural communities. By integrating education sessions on reproductive health into these associations, SaCoDé wanted to ensure that knowledge about family planning would spread effectively and sustainably.

The “Hinduka Uhindure Abandi” project: Transforming lives for a better future

This awareness-raising campaign is part of the “Hinduka uhindure abandi” project, a flagship SaCoDé initiative aimed at strengthening the knowledge and skills of women and young people on sexual and reproductive health.

The project, whose name translates as “Change and help others to change”, is designed to encourage the adoption of healthy and responsible reproductive health behaviors, with the aim of transforming not only individuals, but communities as a whole. The main aim of the campaign was to promote better understanding and adoption of contraceptive methods. By providing participants with reliable and accessible information, SaCoDé aimed to reduce unwanted pregnancies and unsafe abortions, while encouraging the continued education of young girls. Another major objective was to empower women by enabling them to better manage their reproductive lives, an essential condition for increased participation in socio-economic life, including access to paid employment.