As a transgender girl growing up in an urban poor community, Jona Gregorio faced numerous barriers to opportunity and acceptance.

It didn’t help that she was 3rd youngest among a brood of 10 siblings and her parents struggled to support their big family.

Facing significant challenges due to poverty and her identity, Jona turned to risky behaviors as a teenager. At 16 years old, she sought connection and a sense of control in potentially harmful ways. What began as seemingly harmless online chats with strangers soon evolved into venturing into the more precarious world of bars and in-person encounters with men.

While these experiences offered a temporary feeling of empowerment, they also resulted in her facing abuse and exploitation, neglecting her education and dropping out from school. 

It was during this challenging time when Jona and other young people in their community were approached by Samahang Mamamayan Zone One Tondo Inc. (SM-ZOTO) to join the United Nations Population Fund’s (UNFPA) programme on Out-Of-School Comprehensive Sexuality Education, which aims to equip participants with information and skills that will allow them to make informed choices about sexual and reproductive health and rights. 

SM-ZOTO has a long history of community organizing in Metro Manila. They recognized the importance of addressing sexual exploitation and abuse among young people after learning about such cases in their communities.

Supported by UBRAF (UNAIDS’ Unified Budget, Results and Accountability Framework), UNFPA and SM-ZOTO started the CSE programme in 2021 amid COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns. To enable access to sexually transmitted infection (STI) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) services, they implemented cash and voucher assistance for adolescent girls from urban poor communities who engaged in risky sexual behavior.

During her time as a participant, Jona received an allowance for each session she attended. This ensured that she had money to travel to the sessions. The extra cash encouraged her to keep attending and even invite her other friends who were also transgender girls not in school.

Through the sessions, they learned about how to protect themselves from disease and abuse. They learned about their rights, gender-based violence, and sexually transmitted infections (STIs).

Jona admitted that she had always been afraid to go to the health center, thinking that she would have to pay or would get discriminated against.

“We were also scared of getting tested (and testing positive),” she said. “It was a big help when we were tested as part of the programme and luckily I was negative.”

Jona said they were introduced to the local health workers and they learned about their safeguarding and confidentiality protocols. They were also encouraged to return to get tested in the future.

She recalled having fun attending the interactive learning sessions as she bonded with her fellow participants, who were also facing similar challenges.

“Because of the activities, we became busy. We forgot about going back to engaging [in risky behavior],” she said.

Because of her new learnings and the enlightening experience, Jona was inspired to return to school and volunteer with SM-ZOTO. 

After six months of participating in the programme, she was able to save P1,500 from her allowance and used that to buy school supplies when she returned to school.

“It was a big thing because I used the [leftover] allowance for my transportation fare to school, especially during times when I really did not have any money,” Jona said.
The SM-ZOTO staff also saw potential in Jona and asked if she would be interested in training as a peer educator and CSE facilitator.

She underwent training with the organization and with their local government. She started serving as a CSE facilitator for the programme’s third batch.

“It’s very overwhelming. I used to be a participant and now I’m the one using my experience and knowledge to teach,” she said. 

She said the participants listen to her more because she was once in their shoes and she is able to talk about how the sessions helped her. Being relatable encourages participants to approach her privately and talk about their own experiences of abuse.

Butch Ablir, Executive Director of SM-ZOTO, said it was important for them to have separate learning sessions for transgender girls, as well as transgender facilitators.

“This project is a big help because it gives us the opportunity to focus on sexuality education (for transgender people) and not just the usual general reproductive health,” Butch said. He noted that adolescent girls and transgender girls engaged in sex work or are survivors of sexual exploitation and abuse are among the most vulnerable groups in their communities. 

Jona said it’s important for such programmes to tap youth or peer facilitators, especially those with similar backgrounds as the participants since it’s hard for young people to speak out and be open with adults. “Young people don’t listen to older generations. They listen more to their peers since they are the ones having the same experiences, possibly the same types of abuses that they feel.”

Jona said she is already seeing a change in her friends and younger participants who used to engage in risky behavior.

“Some of them have become children’s advocates, youth leaders or have returned to school [like me],” she said. Although there are still some who went back to their old behaviors, including sex work, they at least know about their rights. 

“The more you know about your rights, the less likely you are to be abused [since you will have the confidence to say no],” she said, explaining that many young people are subjected to risky sexual behaviors without knowing that they should not be subjected to physical violence and other forms of abuse.

Now, Jona is juggling her work as a CSE facilitator and her studies as a first year college student. She dreams of working in the field of social work someday.

“I can see myself doing that in the future…I am very happy now as I am able to talk to young people and have them share their experiences at the same time,” she said. 

Jona and other peer facilitators have also been tapped to share their own experiences and the programme’s success in various UNFPA activities, including the recently concluded session for Pride Month.

The out-of-school CSE programme has been implemented in 12 countries – Colombia, Ethiopia, Ghana, Indonesia, Iran, Malawi, Moldova, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Palestine, Philippines and Tunisia.

Initially funded by UBRAF, the UNFPA programme in the Philippines received funding from the government of Norway for 2023 and 2024.

-  Written by Kristine Sabillo Guerrero