Save the Children: Improving Reproductive Health, Paving Way for Sustainable Future

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Stopping child marriage, choosing education instead

Trang, a girl born and raised in a small village nestled in the mountains of Lao Cai, once stood at a crossroads-give up her education and dreams to get married. Her father passed away from lung cancer three years ago, leaving her mother as the family’s sole breadwinner. The burden of providing for two daughters weighed heavily on her, forcing her to toil day and night in the fields just to keep them in school.

Save the Children collaborates to carry out various reproductive health awareness activities in schools. (Photo: Save the Children)

Feeling for her mother’s struggles, Trang often thought about quitting school. In her mind, getting married might ease the pressure and help her mother rest. But her mother’s firm and heartfelt advice—that “education is the only path to a better life”—made Trang hesitate.

The turning point came when Save the Children, in collaboration with her school, organized adolescent clubs. These sessions aimed to equip students with knowledge about puberty and best practices for adolescent reproductive health. Initially, Trang joined just to try it out, but the more she participated, the more she realized the value of the discussions.

At the club, Trang was exposed—perhaps for the first time—to clear, real-life information about the consequences of early marriage. Conversations with teachers and health professionals helped her understand that early marriage can lead to serious reproductive health risks, such as unplanned pregnancies or malnourished children, and can also bring overwhelming responsibilities that neither partner is ready for.

She also listened to peers who had married young, including one friend who shared, “If I could choose again, I would go back to school.” That moment deeply resonated with Trang and made her rethink her future. With each session, her mindset shifted. She began to see that staying in school wasn’t just about her own future—it was the most practical way to help her family.

Her decision to remain in school brought not only relief to her mother but also a renewed sense of purpose. Trang set a clear goal-finish high school, find a stable job, and become financially independent so she could better care for her mother. “Every time I see my mother smile, I know I made the right choice,” Trang said. “I want her to be proud of me. Someday, I want to earn enough to take care of her.”

Trang’s personal transformation also inspired her to encourage other girls. One day, overhearing a group of classmates planning to drop out for marriage, Trang stepped in. She shared her own story and the knowledge she’d gained from the club, urging them to think about education as a path out of hardship. Her honest and heartfelt words convinced them to stay in school.

Journey toward adolescent reproductive health

The youth club at Trang’s school is one part of Save the Children’s broader initiative to enhance reproductive health knowledge and skills among adolescents, ensuring they grow up healthy and well-informed. It is one of five key components of the child-focused Community Development Program in Lao Cai, known as the Sponsorship project.

Launched in 2013, the program collaborates with the Lao Cai Department of Education and Training and local partners to support the long-term, holistic development of children. Its goal is to ensure every child in the project area grows up healthy, receives a quality education, and is empowered to contribute positively to society.

As part of the program, children participate in hands-on lessons, communication campaigns, adolescent healthcare workshops, activities to prevent abuse and accidents, and initiatives promoting disability inclusion. Teachers receive specialized training on health education, child protection, and sustainable caregiving skills.

Save the Children organizes community outreach sessions on adolescent reproductive health. (Photo: Save the Children)

According to project reports, after 11 years of implementation, the program has established 365 youth clubs across Lao Cai, reaching over 18,000 secondary students with reproductive health education. The percentage of adolescents who could name at least two modern contraceptive methods rose from 6% to 66%.

In addition to the Sponsorship program, Save the Children has also launched several other initiatives targeting adolescent reproductive health. One of the most notable is the “Improving Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health in Yen Bai Province” (Daiichi) project, implemented from July 2023 to March 2025 in Mu Cang Chai and Van Chan districts.

This project aims to raise awareness and promote healthy behaviors among ethnic minority adolescents, parents, teachers, healthcare workers, and communities. It also focuses on improving local health facilities’ capacity to offer youth-friendly sexual and reproductive health services and strengthening community outreach, particularly in remote and ethnic areas.

So far, the project has developed educational and communication materials, and conducted training sessions for 222 healthcare workers, teachers, and community organization staff on adolescent reproductive and sexual health. It has established 40 parent clubs with 1,205 members, and 129 student clubs engaging over 4,070 adolescents. Additionally, 10 youth-friendly reproductive health counseling sites have been set up across commune health stations, district health centers, and private clinics to increase accessibility.

A youth-friendly reproductive health service site established under the Daiichi project. (Photo: Save the Children)

Throughout implementation, the project has received positive feedback from local partners and beneficiaries, meeting real needs while respecting local customs and culture. Its culturally sensitive and community-centered approach has significantly contributed to improving awareness, attitudes, and practices related to adolescent reproductive health.

“In the coming time, Save the Children will continue to expand its reproductive health support for adolescents, especially in underserved, remote, and ethnic minority areas,” said Tran Xuan Canh, senior project manager at Save the Children. “We’ll also enhance communication efforts to raise awareness and change behaviors while building long-term collaboration with local authorities to ensure sustainable impact. With strong commitment, we hope to create lasting change and help young people grow into healthy, confident contributors to society.”

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