According to the United Nations Estimates, the population of adolescents and young people ages 10 - 24 is 4.370 million in 2018 and represents about 34% of the total population. Although the proportion of this age group to the total population will continue to decline slowly overtime, the absolute number is expected to increase to about 5,521 million in 2030, to 7,466 million in 2050 and roughly double its current number to 8,327 million by 2063. This means that young people will be roughly the same numbers as the whole South Sudanese population in 2008 of 8,260,490 million.
For each of the successive years projected, the sheer numbers will be the largest cohort of young people to ever enter the reproductive years in South Sudan. Ushering this major segment of the population into educated, healthy, skilled and productive adulthood is paramount for South Sudan’s development and its potential for achieving demographic dividend.
The country office supports the youth the delivery of comprehensive sexuality education and the following interventions are being provided:
- Comprehensive sexuality education targeting youth in and out of school.
- Interventions include training of teachers on CSE in secondary schools, training youth out of schools on CSE, establishment of reproductive health club in schools and universities.
- Interventions also include engagement of stakeholders. 10,451 Stakeholders (line ministries, cultural & religious leaders, and young people) were sensitized on CSE. The sensitization was conducted through advocacy and sensitization meetings with key stakeholders, Radio talk shows and awareness sessions in the 10 locations with youth Programmes.
- Sensitization Stakeholders were sensitized on the Eastern Southern Africa commitment on Comprehensive sexuality education and EUP in the 10 locations with Youth Programme
- Sensitization of Journalists, radio hosts, educators & Health Workers were reached with CSE, EUP information.
- Training of young women and girls on local production of reusable Pads including girls living with disabilities and girls in the cattle camp. In addition, 20 Sanitary pad dispensers were installed in 15 Schools both Primary and Secondary in Bor, Rumbek and Kuajok the alleviate girl’s dilemma of missing out classes because of sudden onset of menstrual flow.
