“I go to bed hungry every night because there is nothing to eat,” says 23-year-old Sofia who is eight months pregnant and lives in Kenya’s Tana River county.

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Motherhood during drought

“I go to bed hungry every night because there is nothing to eat,” says 23-year-old Sofia who is eight months pregnant and lives in Kenya’s Tana River county.

The unprecedented drought following four consecutive failed rainy seasons is devastating parts of Kenya, with over 4.1 million people now facing food insecurity and 1.4 million children in need of humanitarian assistance.

Sofia can only afford one meal a day, putting both herself and her baby at risk. But it’s not just her unborn baby she is worried about. Sofia has two other children who also go to bed hungry every night because she is unable to provide for them.

“I am lucky because my children get food in school. On days they don’t go to school, I worry because I have nothing to offer them so they sleep hungry,” shares Sofia.

Sofia, like many expectant mothers in Tana River County, relies on food supplements which she obtains from her local medical dispensary. Each day, hundreds of mothers arrive at the dispensary in the hope of receiving super cereals or ready-to-use therapeutic food made of peanut butter paste.

However, the numbers of pregnant and breastfeeding mothers arriving in a weakened state as well as malnourished children continue to rise, leaving the health workers worried.

“I have been working here for the last seven years and once the drought hit, the body weight of pregnant and breastfeeding mothers has been worrying. Sometimes, children who are brought in are so weak. According to the mothers, there is nothing to eat at home. The majority rely on the supplements we are offering at the dispensary but we cannot sustain everybody,” explains nutritionist Mwanadie Omar.

Hunger is particularly dangerous for adolescent girls and young women who are pregnant or breastfeeding, as it increases their risk of miscarriage or dying during childbirth. It also increases the risk of stillborn or new born deaths, low birth weight and stunted growth, leading to an intergenerational cycle of malnutrition.

Sofia tells us she is worried about giving birth to her third child as she thinks her baby will have to suffer the same hardships as her other children, if not worse.

“The situation is not getting better. It’s just how life is now.”

Sofia, 23 years old, Kenya

How is Plan International helping?

Plan International is working to support pregnant mothers and their young children by providing ready-to-use therapeutic food. This supports the nutritional needs of the mother and unborn child and ensures that malnourished children are able to build their body weight. We’re also distributing rice, cooking oil and cereals to hard-hit families to support their daily meals.

“We have distributed additional supplements to health facilities in Tana River, targeting children and mothers adversely affected by drought. This includes ready-to-use therapeutic and supplementary food to treat acute malnutrition in children, and a special formula for mothers. We also supported families with food packs to ensure they have a balanced diet,” says George Galugalu, Tana River Project Coordinator.

Our response is ongoing and thanks to the generosity of people like you, countless families have been able to survive the food and water shortage. But the scale and severity of this crisis is growing. We urgently need your help to continue to support girls and their families in places like Kenya.

You can assist us to deliver lifesaving nutrition and safe water to girls in crisis by donating now.


To celebrate International Women’s Day on 8 March, we caught up with a few of our incredible Youth Activist Series (YAS) alumni to find out what they’ve been up to since taking part in the program – from studying, to graduating, to continuing their youth advocacy work, we can’t wait to see what they do next!

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Youth Activist alumni:
Where are they now?

Activists at a climate change protest

To celebrate International Women’s Day on 8 March, we caught up with a few of our incredible Youth Activist Series (YAS) alumni to find out what they’ve been up to since taking part in the program – from studying, to graduating, to continuing their youth advocacy work, we can’t wait to see what they do next!

Jazmin Wright

What have you been up to since the YAS program?
Since being part of YAS2021, I have graduated from my undergraduate degree and pursued opportunities in various youth international relations and foreign affairs organisations. Additionally, I have continued my activism work, with a particular focus on global health.

What year were you involved in the Youth Activist Series? 
2021.

What did you enjoy most about the program? 
I really enjoyed having the opportunity to engage in different areas relating to young people, ranging from the importance of girls’ education, climate resilience, and online safety. It allowed me to explore the various challenges facing young people, which has rendered me a more passionate activist.

Which aspects of the training you received has been most valuable in your life and career since? How?
The media training was the most valuable part of the training I received as a Youth Activist. Being able to effectively communicate to various audiences has been a skill that I have used in almost every opportunity post-YAS, both in my personal and professional life. 

What advice would you give to another young person wanting to become involved in youth advocacy and activism?
The advice I would give to a young person getting involved in youth activism is to become passionate about an issue and understand why you are interested in this. While it is easy to become jaded or discouraged during your activism journey, reminding yourself of what you are passionate about and your motivations for being an activist can make your activism journey easier.

Maya Ghassali 

What year were you involved in the Youth Activist Series?
2020. 

What did you enjoy most about the program?
There were a lot of aspects of the YAS that I enjoyed, but the media opportunities that we had access to particularly stand out. On International Women’s Day, we had the pleasure of featuring on many Australian news outlets, like the ABC and The Age. I loved getting to share a bit about my story and my passions with the Australian public, whilst raising awareness of the importance of gender equality at the same time. 

What did you do after YAS and what are you doing now?
After YAS, I went on to work at the Youth Affairs Council of Victoria, the peak body for young people in the state. There, I advocate for young people’s rights and inclusion in the decision-making processes on the issues they care about. I also became more active in my university, joining clubs and social sports teams. I am now in my final semester of my Politics, Philosophy and Economics degree, and hope to do more study and work overseas in the near future. 

Which aspect of the training you received has been most valuable in your life and career since? How?
(Tbh I don’t remember too much about the training, it was 3 years ago haha) But I think at the end of one of the training days, we had a meaningful discussion with the CEO, Susanne, and it was so inspiring. She created such a safe and welcoming space to all the YAS, and she shared a lot about her life and her work, and even gave us book recommendations to check out. I loved listening to her! 

Where do you see yourself in the future/what would you like to be doing?
I would love to continue on my activism journey at the Youth Affairs Council, as well as explore new sectors like the development sector and see where I can put my skills to use. I love learning about sustainability, economic development, and climate change, and would love to continue to study in any of the following fields.

What advice would you give to another young person wanting to become involved in youth advocacy and activism?
The one piece of advice is just to go for it. Put in your application, because you never know where it might take you. You might think to yourself that you don’t have enough experience to be an activist, but if your passion shines through, then that’s all that really matters. I saw the YAS application pop up on my Instagram. I submitted the application and didn’t really think anything would come from it, but it did and I got to meet like-minded people and push myself outside of my comfort zone, and you should too!

Olivia Causer

What year were you involved in the Youth Activist Series?
2021

What did you enjoy most about the program?
Meeting other YAS and collaborating on projects to further the movement for intersectional equality.

What did you do after YAS and what are you doing now?
When I was in the program, I was starting my first year of university. I’m still studying, but am now in my third year (which is wild..) of my degree (Bachelor Laws/Arts – Politics and International Relations; Global Development). I have remained involved with PLAN and the YAS program as an alumni, which continues to provide such incredible experiences and opportunities to further develop my skills and advocate for issues which I feel passionate. Also, I got a dog… his name is Spencer, and I am 100% a crazy dog mum.

Which aspect of the training you received has been most valuable in your life and career since? How?
Although the skills I gained during my time in the YAS program have proven invaluable across all aspects of my life, it was the immense increase in my confidence in those skills that I am the most grateful for. PLAN facilitates such a welcoming, inclusive, and inspiring within the YAS program, and truly fosters the growth of each individual to become the best version of themselves. 

Where do you see yourself in the future/what would you like to be doing?
Though I’m not completely certain what I will end up pursuing, I would like to think it will involve activism, advocating for individuals within the legal realm, and contributing to the greater movement of human rights protection.

What advice would you give to another young person wanting to become involved in youth advocacy and activism?
Just jump in! It can be daunting at first but there is no better time than now. There is no ‘right’ way to be involved in the youth advocacy and activism space – staying informed and educating yourself on issues you are passionate about, connecting with like minded people, and discovering your own strengths as an activist are just three things to help guide you… but don’t over complicate it! Trust your gut, follow your instincts, and take care of yourself <3 


March 22 marks World Water Day, with the theme in 2023 being Accelerating Change. The world is currently well behind targets to meet the Sustainable Development Goal of water and sanitation for all by 2030, with many people around the world still lacking basic WASH (water, sanitation and hygiene) services. This includes Solomon Islands, which has some of the most challenging WASH statistics in the world. According to the latest UN Water statistics, 64% of schools in Solomon Islands have no or limited access to drinking water, 63% have no sanitation facilities and 75% lack any access to hygiene services.

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Improving access to water in Solomon Islands’ schools

“I wash my hands at the handwashing station. I use soap to wash my hands. I first wet it, then I soap it, scrub it, wash it again, then dry it.”

It sounds simple, but the handwashing process explained by 13-year-old Evita from Guadalcanal Province in Solomon Islands has not been commonplace in her school. In the past, a lack of water has even led to her school being closed and Evita being sent home.

“There was no water, so we didn’t continue with opening the school, we sent the children home. The toilet needs water, drinking, handwashing and everything needs water but there was no more water”, explains Head Teacher Stephanie Biliki.

Evita uses a handwashing station at her school.

Evita uses a handwashing station at her school.

March 22 marks World Water Day, with the theme in 2023 being Accelerating Change. The world is currently well behind targets to meet the Sustainable Development Goal of water and sanitation for all by 2030, with many people around the world still lacking basic WASH (water, sanitation and hygiene) services.

This includes Solomon Islands, which has some of the most challenging WASH statistics in the world. According to the latest UN Water statistics, 64% of schools in Solomon Islands have no or limited access to drinking water, 63% have no sanitation facilities and 75% lack any access to hygiene services.

Our Emergency Hygiene Kit Gift of Hope helps reduce the risk of water-borne diseases by providing children with the hygiene essentials they need to not just survive but thrive.

Through the Australian Government’s Water for Women program, Plan International and our partner Live & Learn Environmental Education are working in Solomon Islands’ Guadalcanal Province to support improved WASH facilities in rural communities and health clinics and strengthen WASH outcomes in schools. The initial New Times, New Targets project ran from 2018 to 2022 and has recently been extended for a further two years.

Head Teacher Stephanie has noticed big changes at her Primary School.

“Live & Learn came and improved the water supply system. The existing one wasn’t working properly, so they came and improved it. They provide tanks used to collect rainwater. Also, standpipes and improvement of the ablution block. We have showers in there for the girls to use.”

The effect on school attendance has been dramatic. “It encourages the students to come to school because at home, some places don’t have a proper toilet or proper water supply, so they enjoy coming to school now every day.”

Alongside the improvements to WASH infrastructure, Plan International and Live & Learn has been conducting training and awareness raising on the importance of handwashing and menstrual health and hygiene. “They learn these things through art. They do drawing, colouring, and discussions. This helps them to grasp knowledge especially looking into handwashing and other hygienic practices.” explains Stephanie.

Menstrual health and hygiene classes have particularly impressed teacher Maria Gau, who has seen more girls in her class as a result. “When girls started to menstruate, the students would stay home. But since the awareness and facilities to support our girls in school, it helped them understand that it is part of life, and they can continue with their learning. As well as boys. They always accept it. And no more bullying or teasing of girls.”

The new facilities and training have seen handwashing adopted as a daily routine, and Stephanie is proud of the school’s achievements.

“The projects, they have really boosted the learning for the school community. The changes in the children are noticed; their hygiene, they look clean, neat and smart because these things are available here.”

But for Evita, it is really only about one thing.  “I enjoy playing games with my friends. I also enjoy washing my hands at the WASH station.”

New Times, New Targets is an Australian aid initiative implemented by Plan International Australia with Live and Learn Environmental Education on behalf of the Australian Government’s Water for Women Fund.

Learn more about our work in Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH).


February 24 marks the one year anniversary of the escalation of conflict in Ukraine. And 12 months on, missiles continue to strike cities across the country. 15 million people have been forced to flee their homes, in a refugee crisis of proportions not seen in Europe since WWII. Critical infrastructure has been destroyed, including schools and hospitals, while attacks on energy infrastructure have left over six million people to suffer through a winter without electricity. One in five schools have been damaged, interrupting education for millions of children and more than 40 percent of the population are in need of humanitarian assistance.

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Ukraine

One Year On.

“I understood what was going on, but I did not understand what to do. I knew we could not turn the time back and that our lives have been changed forever.”

Amina, 14, Ukraine

February 24 marks the one year anniversary of the escalation of conflict in Ukraine. And 12 months on, missiles continue to strike cities across the country.

15 million people have been forced to flee their homes, in a refugee crisis of proportions not seen in Europe since WWII. Critical infrastructure has been destroyed, including schools and hospitals, while attacks on energy infrastructure have left over six million people to suffer through a winter without electricity. One in five schools have been damaged, interrupting education for millions of children and more than 40 percent of the population are in need of humanitarian assistance.

“I used to think that life during the COVID-19 lockdown in 2020 was very hard, but I now realise that it was nothing compared to what we are going through now,” says 14-year-old Amina.

17-year-old Zenhya also attends Amina’s school, in a small village less than an hour’s drive from Kyiv.

“My parents are from this village. I was born here and have been at this school since I started school. When the war started, I left the village with my family. I stayed in touch with friends who stayed in the village and they told me that it was very hard for them and very dangerous. They were very scared.”

Zenhya, 17, Ukraine

returning to school

Despite being damaged when the village was under Russian control last year, Zenhya and Amina’s school has now returned to face-to-face learning, one of the only schools in the area to have done so. The girls much prefer being back at school, rather than learning online, like they did between March and September last year.

“For me, going back to school meant no longer being stuck on my own at home,” explains Amina. “It was also great to get back to studying the right way, in person.” And Zenhya agrees, “I was very happy to come back to school. First of all, it was great to be back together with friends and spend time with them. I no longer feel alone.”

Getting children back in school is critical to providing a sense of safety and normality and ensuring they grow up to reach their full potential. In times of crisis, the chance to go to school can be a lifeline. For children who have been forced to flee their homes, it is an important part of building a life in a new country.

Nastya, Zenhya and Amina are happy to be back in school.

Nastya, Zenhya and Amina are happy to be back in school.

One of the school’s refurbished corridors.

One of the school’s refurbished corridors.

Nastya, 15, and Amina, 14, in front of their school’s art wall.

Nastya, 15, and Amina, 14, in front of their school’s art wall.

Item 1 of 3

Nastya, Zenhya and Amina are happy to be back in school.

Nastya, Zenhya and Amina are happy to be back in school.

One of the school’s refurbished corridors.

One of the school’s refurbished corridors.

Nastya, 15, and Amina, 14, in front of their school’s art wall.

Nastya, 15, and Amina, 14, in front of their school’s art wall.

our impact

Thanks to your generous support, since March 2022 Plan International has been responding to the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine and surrounding countries, focussed on supporting refugees in Moldova, Poland, and Romania and also working through our implementing partner International Medical Corps (IMC) inside Ukraine.

To date, we have reached more than 150,000 people with critical support – over 28,000 in Poland, over 38,000 in Romania, almost 50,000 in Moldova, and nearly 37,000 in Ukraine.

Support our response to the Ukraine crisis by making a donation.

Our activities have included

Providing in-depth psychosocial support via mobile teams to over 12,000 children and their caregivers in Moldova – offering services in 10 districts and 14 settings.

Distributing 5,000 blankets to vulnerable families in Moldova.   

Supporting the rehabilitation and reconstruction of infrastructure for children, including 75 schools and 25 shelters. This supports the continuation of education and helps provide adequate protection from air raids, directly supporting close to 40,000 children, adolescents and their caregivers.

Disbursing 10 million euros to support our partner-led programmes in Ukraine, Moldova, Romania and Poland.

Distributing 11,200 hygiene kits, including 7,000 period dignity kits in Poland, 600 in Romania and 600 in Moldova to girls and young women. The kit includes period and hygiene products. For example, menstrual pads, shampoo, anti-perspirants and wet wipes.

Providing more than 2,500 people with information on their relevant rights, legal aid and documentation. This has included support in obtaining housing.

Unconditional and unrestricted cash support for 40,000 people in Ukraine, Poland and Romania.

Distributing relief items such as blankets, winter clothing, heating appliances and heating fuel to more than 14,000 people, particularly those in isolated areas of Ukraine.

At least 1,500 teachers have been trained in mental health and psychosocial support, social and emotional learning, psychological first aid and classroom integration in Poland and Moldova.

Over 1,200 backpacks with school materials have been provided to children as part of Back to School campaigns in conjunction with local municipalities and Ministries of Education.

Educating and integrating over 3,000 children in child friendly spaces in seven community libraries and three Refugee Accommodation Centres (RACs) in Moldova, with storytelling and group reading activities with local children as well as via a mobile toy library (Ludobus).

Nine daycare centres have been established in Poland, offering protection services to children and employment to refugee women.

15,000 children have benefitted from formal or non-formal learning activities, including the provision of tablets to continue to follow the all-Ukrainian school curriculum online.

We have provided over 60,000 people with food assistance in Moldova and Ukraine.

Over 30,000 children have been provided with protection services, ensuring girls and boys affected by the Ukraine conflict are protected from violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation. This includes providing support to families to help prevent negative coping mechanisms.

One year on and with no end in sight to the situation in Ukraine, Plan International and our partners will continue to be there – through the conflict and as they rebuild and recover. Your support has allowed us to deliver our response thus far, and will be critical in order for us to continue scaling up our life-sustaining programs, and restoring normality in children’s lives.

Support our response to the Ukraine crisis by making a donation.

After the traumatic experiences of the past year, for Amina, being back at school has given her a way to focus on creating a brighter future, even if she doesn’t quite know what that looks like yet.

“I don’t know yet what I want to do when I grow up, maybe I will follow my brother’s path and go to medical school, or maybe I will be a chemistry teacher. I want all of us to finish school with good results and for my teachers to be proud of us. I hope that we can all achieve great things and that one day our teachers will say: ‘this is the girl or boy that I used to teach’.”

Amina, 14, Ukraine


At Plan International Australia we seek to ensure vulnerable and excluded children and young people are safe, more resilient and enjoy greater realisation of their rights. We do this by working with a range of stakeholders to promote positive attitudes, behaviour and practices and improve access to resources, services and support. Together with partners, we work for lasting impact on norms, attitudes and behaviours, social and economic resources and safety nets, and policy frameworks and budgets. We do this at individual, family, community, national and global levels to support empowerment of children, young people and communities.

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2022

Plan International Australia acknowledges and pays respect to Elders past and present of this nation. We recognise sovereignty was never ceded and that this land always was and always will be First Nations land. We recognise their ongoing connection to land, waters and community, and we commit to ongoing learning, deep and active listening, and taking action in solidarity.

why plan international exists

130M girls

More than 130 million girls around the globe are not in school.

every 10 minutes

Every 10 minutes, one adolescent girl dies as a result of violence.

12m girls

12 million girls are forced to marry as children every year.

Right now, there are more than half a billion adolescent girls living on our planet and all of them, at some point in their lives, will be disproportionately affected by gender inequality. Inequality knows no borders, and isn’t restricted to any one community, culture or continent. Half the world’s population is being held back by inequality. That’s why we’re working to fight gender inequality around the world. Because a better now for her, means a better future for everyone.

how we create impact

At Plan International Australia we seek to ensure vulnerable and excluded children and young people are safe, more resilient and enjoy greater realisation of their rights. We do this by working with a range of stakeholders to promote positive attitudes, behaviour and practices and improve access to resources, services and support. We implement a rigorous framework to maintain the quality of our programs, based on a theory of change with clear outcomes and measurements, and evidence of the program’s impact.

our theory of change

Together with partners, we work for lasting impact on norms, attitudes and behaviours, social and economic resources and safety nets, and policy frameworks and budgets. We do this at individual, family, community, national and global levels to support empowerment of children, young people and communities.

from the ceo

View or download our full 2022 Annual Impact Report

Our focus on girls’ rights can be crystallised into four priority domains, where we support girls in their communities to

learn

Have access to education and the skills for work and life.

lead

Take action on issues that matter to them.

decide

Have control over their lives and bodies.

thrive

Grow up cared for and free from violence and fear.

Our goal is to become the world’s leading international NGO for girls in humanitarian crises, and this has resulted in a fifth priority area.

survive

Increase the impact of our humanitarian work for children, particularly girls, by adapting our focus where the need is greatest.

Our ‘Survive’ programs aim to ensure children and young people grow up in resilient communities and realise their rights to live with dignity and protection, before, during, and after disasters and conflicts. These programs include Food and Livelihoods Security, Climate Change Adaptation and Disaster Risk Management. 

In FY22 we achieved the following impact through these programs

Reached 280,000+ people

with food and nutrition support in South Sudan, one of the countries hardest hit by the hunger crisis in the horn of Africa.

over 50,000

people in Zimbabwe provided with cash and voucher assistance, supporting them in the face of the hunger crisis. This gave women greater control of shared resources, enabled them to cover their basic food needs and reduced the use of negative coping strategies (such as sexual exploitation in exchange for food).

Reached 1,431,700 people with our digital campaign 

to raise awareness about COVID-19 preparedness and and prevention in Papua New Guinea (PNG), and successfully replicated the campaign in Solomon Islands (reaching 264,768 people) and in Vanuatu (reaching 150,197 people so far).

858,811 people facing food insecurity

supported in agricultural and urban settings in South Sudan, Myanmar, Cambodia, Sudan, Zimbabwe and Laos, through 15+ projects in partnership with the World Food Programme.

Responded to disasters and emergencies 

with teams providing emergency assistance following Typhoon Rai in Philippines, flash floods in Timor Leste, Tropical Cyclone Yasa in Fiji, the volcanic eruption and tsunami in Tonga, and La Niña induced drought in Kiribati.

Delivered 18 humanitarian response projects

through the Australian Humanitarian Partnership (AHP), our partnership with the Australian Government, including 3 protracted crises – Ukraine, Syria and the Rohingya crisis. 

responding in ukraine

After fleeing Ukraine, 13-year-old Arina and her mother Iryna have spent the last few months moving between various countries and shelters, finally settling in Bucharest, Romania, where they now share a home with two other mothers, one of them with another teenage daughter, who also fled the conflict. 

Through Plan International and our local partner ADRA, Arina and her mother have been part of our cash voucher program, an effective method of support that allows people to buy food and any other items they might need. This helps women and girls to maintain their independence and dignity.

“We spent the money buying fruit and vegetables for the children,” shares Iryna. “We also bought some medicine, hygiene products, underwear and other private items that women need.” 

“The vouchers made us feel more secure as we had our own money….could make our own decisions.” 

Plan International Australia’s Ukraine response is delivered in partnership with the Australian Government through the Australian Humanitarian Partnership (AHP) and with support from our partners Plan Netherlands, IMC and the Emergency Action Alliance. 

Our ‘Learn’ programs aim to ensure vulnerable and excluded children, particularly girls, have the education and skills they need to succeed in life and support themselves financially. These programs include, Early Childhood Development, Inclusive Education and Youth Economic Empowerment.

In FY22 we achieved the following impact through these programs

Supported over 900 out-of-school Syrian refugees 

and Jordanian children to access informal education as well as vocational training.

Supported more than 38,000 students to explore career options

in five northern provinces of Vietnam through a curriculum developed in partnership with the Ministry of Education and Training.

Supported 62,000+ people in Bangladesh

to ensure children and youth have better access to education, child protection services, and livelihood opportunities.

Trained 604 lower-secondary school teachers in vietnam 

in experimental models of learning, vocational skills development and inclusive education for girls and youth from ethnic minority communities. 

Revolutionising education through Cambodia’s School Learning Gardens.

Despite Cambodia improving enrolment rates of children in primary school, Cambodian children, especially those in rural areas, continue to fall behind in school due to a lack of quality teaching and learning environments.

The School Learning Garden (SLG) project aims to improve educational quality and learning outcomes for students, as well as provide an enabling environment for both girls and boys to display gender-equitable and inclusive attitudes and behaviours at school.

The project transforms the school garden and kitchen spaces into an extension of the classroom and supports teachers to use experiential and hands-on learning techniques. 

It’s a groundbreaking approach to education in Cambodia, inspired by the evidence-based model of the Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Program in Australia, which is currently implemented in over 800 schools. 

12-year-old Dany, now in grade 6, has been participating in SLG activities for the past two years and enjoys the hands-on nature of lessons amongst the leaves and vines.

I have learned how to cook in the learning kitchen, we learn about nutritious foods that can make us become healthy, and how to be safe when learning and working in the kitchen. I like to cook green vegetable soup.

Dany

“When I cannot easily understand the theory for difficult lessons in the classroom, I can learn better with hands-on activities,” she explains. “I learned the theory in the class about how to grow the vegetable [and] through practice in the garden, I can prepare soil, mix the compost fertiliser with the soil, prepare the garden bed and could start growing Morning Glory (water spinach)”.

The School Learning Garden project is delivered in partnership with the Australian Government through the Australian NGO Cooperation Program (ANCP), and with support from the Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Program and funds generously donated to Plan International Australia from the Australian public. 

Our ‘Lead’ programs aim to ensure vulnerable and excluded children, particularly girls, have the power to take action on issues that matter to them, and shape the decisions that affect their lives. These programs include Child Centred Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation, and women’s leadership and gender equality focused programs like Safer Cities for Girls.

In FY22 we achieved the following impact through these programs 

Trained 78 government representatives

in Philippines on community-based disaster risk reduction and management, resilient livelihoods, child protection and gender and inclusion approaches, to support local governments, deliver community consultations and engage youth in urban resilience planning.

Reached 1.3 million young people 

through a digital climate change awareness campaign and comic books developed in partnership with UNICEF, the National Meteorology Agency and young climate change leaders in Indonesia.

Supported 634 men and 640 women 

to participate in sessions on gender issues and women’s equal rights as part of our Youth Empowerment Project in Bougainville.

Rising tides: Supporting youth leadership in climate action

Plan International acknowledges that the only way to achieve sustainable climate resilience is through youth leadership and fully engaging girls and young women in all of their diversities in climate action, and we are committed to developing climate leaders and creating space for youth leadership in climate change through our advocacy and programs.

In February 2022, in partnership with Plan International Finland and supported by nine other Plan International offices, we released Rising Tides: Mapping Youth Movements for Climate Resilience, a global research report bringing together important findings from young researchers and youth groups from nine countries bearing the brunt of the climate crisis. 

Illustration and Design: Sonaksha Iyengar www.sonaksha.com

Eleven young researchers from Myanmar, Laos, Solomon Islands, Fiji, Indonesia, Ethiopia, Uganda, Mozambique and Zimbabwe conducted a joint desk review of climate change policy to identify youth-led or youth-oriented organisations, groups, and movements for climate change adaptation. 

The Rising Tides report was supported by the Australian Government through the Australian NGO Cooperation Program (ANCP) and with support from the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland (MFA). resilience strategies and actions within the projects under the My Body, My Future (MBMF) programme, as well as 

Our ‘Decide’ programs aim to ensure vulnerable and excluded children, particularly girls, have control over their lives, their bodies and their futures, and make informed choices about identity and relationships, and if and when to have children. These programs include life skills and identity focused programs, young women’s leadership, integrated sexual and reproductive rights and maternal and child health activities. 

In FY22 we achieved the following impact through these programs 

Improved the capacity of 36 healthcare workers 

from rural health facilities in Bougainville building stronger adolescent sexual and reproductive health services that will positively impact thousands of girls and young women. This has increased young people’s knowledge and adoption of positive ASRH behaviours.

The program also recruited a Plan International PNG Clinical Officer based in the Family Support Centre located within the Arawa District Hospital grounds, with the purpose to provide ongoing ASRH counselling and referral services to young people, and capacity building for healthcare workers. 

our Adolescent Girls in Crisis program in Uganda: 

Supported young women and girls to manage their sexual and reproductive health, with 73% of participants