Reducing Adolescent Pregnancy (RAP) in the Era of COVID-19

The RAP initiative is a short-term, workshop-based program designed to reduce adolescent pregnancy, improve reproductive health knowledge, and support girls’ return to school. Initially piloted in Kisumu, Kenya, in partnership with Winam Green Ventures, the four-week program reached 60 girls, all of whom avoided unintended pregnancies and returned to school following participation. The initiative has since expanded to Malawi, supported by the U.S. Department of State’s Citizen Diplomacy Action Fund, reaching girls in Blantyre and Balaka through partnerships with local organizations, including Ukani Malawi and TraumaVenture.

RAP delivers structured workshops across four core themes: pregnancy and STI prevention, COVID-19 safety, menstrual and reproductive health, and consent-based safe sex education. The program combines information sessions with the distribution of essential supplies such as contraceptives, menstrual hygiene products, masks, and sanitation materials. Through a Training-of-Trainers model, RAP builds local facilitation capacity to ensure cultural relevance and sustainability, while strengthening girls’ awareness of community-based support services and their rights to bodily autonomy and informed decision-making.