Oluchi Chibuzor Interview
Please tell us about yourself?
My name is Oluchi Chibuzor, co-founder of rural advancement and sustainable development initiative a grassroot community building & organisation in Nigeria and have attended various international conferences within West Africa relating to Sustainable agricultural developmental programmes as a delegate. I also belong to various international social media platforms. My activism centred on poverty reduction, youth empowerment, climate change, infant and maternal health, gender and sustainable development and humanitarian works. I am from the eastern part of Nigeria and have volunteered in various MGDs, women and gender projects and a local secretary of aids action committee
What is the name of the community outreach project you involved in? And what is it all about?
Zero Teenage Pregnancy Zero Teenage Mother, Worldwide about 14 million adolescent girls give birth, while 4.4 millions have abortion and approximately 60% of adolescent mothers live in poverty at the times of their babies, and approximately 73% go on welfare within 5 years of giving birth. Worldwide, women bear a greater burden of sexual and reproductive ill-health than men. More than half a million women die in pregnancy and childbirth in resources constraints settings.
In the rural communities, teenage girls form a significant population group in terms of demographic parameter and are a unique population in terms of characteristics as a result of their development processes. They face unique challenges, some of which have compromise their health and developmental potentials. The concern about the health and development of adolescent girls have been expressed in various regional& international summits , which led to the declaration of October 11, world girls day by united nation UN by December 2011. The project involves a community walk and a Base line studies on positive youth- oriented developmental program within the community, Monthly lecture at the youth development centre, Seminar & workshop with the parents teacher association, Production & distribution of IEC materials, Selection of Initiative ambassadors at school and community levels for data collection and media group to serve as watch dog against violence and discrimination at grassroots level
When did it start? What motivated you to start this project?
Since a year and half now, WHO also observed that 40% of all unsafe abortions occurs in adolescent under the age of 20 and the rate is higher in Africa than any other region. 15 million young women between the ages of 15-19 years give birth each year accounting for 17% of all annual births in the least developed countries and as high as 40% of all maternal mortalities in some countries in the region.
What is the purpose this project?
Promote healthy sexual behaviour, communication and negotiation skills of young people among family, friends, community and significant others at the rural areas. Tackle gender violence and conflict. Promote collaborative approach by teenagers with their families, teachers, health professionals, the faith community, lawmakers, and other community organization.
What do you want to achieve with project?
To reduce infant mortality, reduce maternal death and improve maternal health behaviour through education and skill development, encourage media to promote teenage- friendly programmes in their charts, discourage obnoxious sexual misconduct among teenagers,
contribute to national policy on girl child right through thorough assessment, research and awareness on risky factor that can give rise to teenage pregnancy
How one can get involved in the project?
That will be great to have people partner with the project, because many more rural areas to visit. They can join either by volunteering or recommend us to funding partners
What were some of the challenges you faced as a young person starting your own project?
Starting up a project requires self evaluation of what and where your passion is. People never believe in my project, finance, community entry and getting people to see the benefit of the project to the community.
How has the journey being like so far?
The journey has been challenging, daring, daunting and promising because our vision is to have a centre for teenage pregnancy prevention in the community.
How has the community benefited from the project?
There is an increased sense of greater girls child right protection, HIV/AIDS and other STIs related diseases
What has been some of your biggest achievements yet?
My biggest achievement has been starting up my project, mobilising resources within the community and getting the community leaders’ partner with me. Also been able to train some rural community youths on MGDs goal 1
What do you think are some of the challenges facing African youth today?
Self limitation, lack of equal opportunity with other youth in the western world, unfavourable youth policies and bad governance of our leaders
Where do you see yourself in 5 years time?
Be in board of international humanitarian agencies, involve with AU, ECOWAS and UN project. Also travel to different part of the world to deliver lectures
What would you like to change about Africa today?
Change the mentality of Africans of travelling out Africa for greener pastures and reducing infant mortalities and maternal death. Also reduce poverty in Africa
What advice do you have for young people who want to start their own project?
Start small and never neglect your ideas because that can be the ideas Africa need. Also have determination, self believe, ignore discouraging thoughts and be focus till your project is born.
How can other youth connect with you?
They can connect with me via email [email protected] on face book or tweet me @oluchichibuzor
