“When the youth get involved in activities and issues in society that are very important, it empowers us to take ownership and it fosters a sense of responsibility to take proactive decision-making.” 

This insight is shared by Leila Mari Babalcon, a youth leader in Paranas, Samar, in the Eastern Visayas region, where the instances of adolescent pregnancies are one of the highest in the Philippines. 

Leila says, “There is a lack of information regarding sexual and reproductive health. Because of this, consequences of sexual behaviors and actions cannot be avoided.”

Leila actively participates in the initiatives of the Joint Programme on Accelerating the Reduction of Adolescent Pregnancy (JPARAP), which is supported by the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) and jointly implemented by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), and the World Health Organization (WHO). The goal of the program is to empower the youth with information, services, and facilities that will help them make wise decisions about their sexual and reproductive health.

Leila understands that by becoming parents before they are ready, adolescents may have a hard time going back to school, getting a job, and providing for their children. She says that while health services and programs exist, it is important that the youth themselves take responsibility of the problem. 

Using her voice and platform as a Sangguniang Kabataan Chairman, Leila encourages her fellow youth and constituents to educate themselves, to consider long-term consequences of their actions, and to join the fight against adolescent pregnancy. #