POWER

POWER (Providing Opportunities for Women in Entrepreneurship & Reproductive Health), is a new start-up accelerator project, which was first implemented in Uganda by Deutsche Stiftung Weltbevölkerung (DSW) in collaboration with our partner, Action 4 Health Uganda (A4HU). POWER is a transformative initiative that aims to empower women entrepreneurs (18-30 years) and foster the creation of innovative businesses that will positively influence the supply and demand of family planning and sexual and reproductive health and rights (FP/SRHR) information, services, and products. By focusing on the intersection of entrepreneurship and start-up growth, reproductive health, and technology, the project has achieved remarkable success during its pilot phase and has ambitious plans for further expansion into 2025.

Shane O’Halloran

POWER in Uganda

POWER is an accelerator project that was first implemented in Uganda (2022/3) by Deutsche Stiftung Weltbevölkerung (DSW) in collaboration with our partner Action 4 Health Uganda (A4HU). POWER is a transformative initiative that aims to empower women entrepreneurs (18-30 years) and drive sustainable development in Uganda. By focusing on the intersection of entrepreneurship and start-up growth, reproductive health and technology, the project has achieved remarkable success in its pilot phase and has ambitious plans for further expansion.

In the pilot phase of POWER, twelve exceptional female entrepreneurs successfully completed a comprehensive accelerator programme at the Bonita Training Centre in Uganda. Through intensive training, mentoring and networking opportunities, these women have developed innovative business ideas and successfully launched start-ups in the field of family planning and sexual and reproductive health and rights (FP/SRHR). Not only have they become economically empowered, but they have also created jobs, helping to reduce unemployment in Uganda.

Building on this success, the POWER project has ambitious plans for expansion. From October 2023, DSW and A4HU have hired a dedicated social entrepreneurship manager to unlock new potential in this area. Together, we have developed a new model that further integrates our large youth network, youth clubs and Youth Empowerment Centres (YECs).

POWER in Tanzania

From 2024, POWER is now also in Tanzania! Building on the incredible success of POWER in Uganda, DSW will continue to empower female entrepreneurs by equipping them with the skills, knowledge and resources necessary to launch FP/SRHR start-ups.

Our comprehensive approach includes not only basic business training, but also mentoring/coaching, leadership development and networking opportunities that are critical to their success. This mission also aligns with Tanzania’s Vision 2025, which addresses key socio-economic and health challenges. The start-ups that emerge from this programme can contribute to increasing the availability of innovative products, services and information in the field of FP/SRHR. In addition, new approaches such as young women’s roundtables, i.e. spaces for women in business to network and engage in open dialogue, and the involvement of the formal and informal sectors will be pursued. All training will take place either in person at the DSW Tanzania’s Training Centre or online.

As in Uganda, POWER is expected to lead to the emergence of new, innovative business solutions that effectively address critical FP/SRHR issues, contributing to better access for young people and more informed decision-making.
To improve the sustainability of the programme, DSW has committed to integrating the initiative into DSW Tanzania’s youth clubs (YCs) and youth work.

Are you interested in learning more?

Find out more on the POWER page.

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Plannable support for young people

More health for youth

Youth for Health (Y4H) is a three-year initiative that will work to expand access to life-changing adolescent sexual and reproductive healthcare and rights (ASRHR), with a focus on reaching the poorest and most marginalised adolescent girls, including those with disabilities, in rural and hard-to-reach areas of Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, and Zambia. By unlocking demand and access and contributing towards changes in favour of supportive policies and funding environments, Youth for Health will increase and sustain access to ASRHR for girls and young women.

DSW in a consortium led by MSI Reproductive Choices, along with six other national partners,  Centre for the Study of Adolescence (CSA) Kenya, Health Alert Sierra Leone (HASiL), Youth Advocates Ghana (YAG), Sikika, Restless Development Zambia and Youth Network for Sustainable Development (YNSD) Ethiopia are implementing the Y4H project. Each partner brings a wealth of experience working with, and for, adolescents, including in youth-friendly services; youth-led accountability and participation in governance; youth leadership, especially of young women; youth mobilisation; and community engagement; as well as long-standing media and communication experience.

DSW’s role in the project is to improve the political environment and mobilise resources in the countries at local, national and regional levels, while working on the ground in two subdistricts in Ethiopia, Kenya and Tanzania. Other project partners are focused on increasing demand for high-quality SRHR information and ensuring a strong public health sector is able to deliver ASRHR services. In these six subdistricts, DSW-trained youth champions are working to ensure that their demands for improved national ASRHR services are heard. The production and analysis of annual budget studies and community scorecards will be important tools the youth champions will use in their advocacy to call for increased funding for ASRHR in their communities.

Miriam Riechers

Key activities

Annual analysis of public budgets in Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania and Zambia in terms of planning and spending on ASRHR and family planning.

Collection of data on the availability of youth-friendly ASRHR services and modern contraceptives in the communities.

Providing expertise on ASRHR through participation in working groups and consultations at the local, regional and national levels.

Training of 30 youth champions per country on family planning, ASRHR and gender-based violence.

Online and in-person interaction with local community members on ASRHR and gender-based violence issues through campaigns each year.

Engage with the African Union (AU) and East African Community (EAC) by participating at civil society organisation consultation meetings and disseminating ASRHR advocacy priorities

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Efficient, as administrative costs are low

Plannable support for young people

My health – My school

The rate of teenage pregnancies in Tanzania is one of the highest in the world: 27 percent of girls between the ages of 15 and 19 are pregnant or already have their first child. Too often, this means the end of their school career. Poverty and financial dependency often have repercussions for the next generations. Early pregnancies also carry a high health risk – complications that are dangerous for mother and child occur much more often. With the project “My Health – My School” we break this spiral.

Young people in Tanzania have many questions about sexual and reproductive health, but hardly any protected places where they can get answers. The taboo of sexuality, lack of youth-friendly education and a lack of contraceptives are the main reasons for teenage pregnancies there. Many girls and young women also experience sexualised and gender-based violence. With the project “My Health – My School”, contact points for young people are being created in seven secondary schools in Tanzania’s capital Dodoma. There, they receive information about sexuality and contraceptives. They also talk about their experiences of violence and learn about their rights.

Based on the concept of DSW’s youth clubs, young people are trained to educate each other at eye level. Together with liaison teachers, head teachers and education representatives from local politics, DSW ensures that pupils are aware of the offer that are available and make use of them. Last but not least, we continue to campaign for pregnant girls and young mothers to be able to go to school. Although Tanzania has recently lifted the school ban for pregnant girls and young mothers, many girls still face insurmountable barriers.

Miriam Riechers

Schlüsselaktivitäten

Setting up youth clubs

56 youth clubs will be set up in 7 secondary schools

Training of counsellors

Training of youth counsellors in the areas of sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) and sexualised and gender-based violence, who pass on their knowledge to their peers

Training for teachers

Training for liaison teachers, head teachers and local education officers

Donate regularly, help sustainably.

25 €
1000 €

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Efficient, as administrative costs are low

Plannable support for young people

By Youth for Youth

What happens during menstruation? Why do I get pregnant and how can I prevent it? What does an equal relationship look like? DSW youth clubs are places where young people can talk about topics that are otherwise largely taboo. DSW-trained peer educators teach other young people between the ages of ten and 24 the basics of sexuality and give tips on health and everyday issues.

In addition, the young people in the youth clubs learn what contraceptives are available and where to get them. The young people are also provided with comprehensive information about the risks and ways of contracting HIV, and minimising common myths and stigmas. The peer educators also know where young people can get professional health advice and treatment in their area and refer them to appropriate health centres. In initial pilot projects, these health services are being integrated directly into youth centres.

How we engage with youth

Youth Champions

DSW’s Youth Champions are young women and men from East Africa who are active in politics. With them, DSW builds its advocacy on SRHR, including voluntary family planning, and global health.

Education at eye level

The peer educators and the youth club members are of a similar age. This makes it easier for them to interact. The young people meet in their clubs, discuss sexuality education issues and prepare events in their communities.

Education in school clubs

Some clubs are located directly on the school grounds. This allows young people to talk directly to their classmates about how to avoid contracting HIV, for example.

Youth Truck

The mobile youth and health trucks are deployed in hard-to-reach rural areas. The teams carry out educational work directly on site.

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Support us.

Donate online, help on the ground. Support our projects and political work for sexuality education and voluntary family planning with your donation.

Project

POWER

POWER (Providing Opportunities for Women in Entrepreneurship & Reproductive Health), is a new start-up accelerator project, which was first implemented in Uganda by Deutsche Stiftung Weltbevölkerung (DSW) in collaboration with our partner, Action 4 Health Uganda (A4HU). POWER is a transformative initiative that aims to empower women entrepreneurs (18-30 years) and foster the creation of innovative businesses that will positively influence the supply and demand of family planning and sexual and reproductive health and rights (FP/SRHR) information, services, and products. By focusing on the intersection of entrepreneurship and start-up growth, reproductive health, and technology, the project has achieved remarkable success during its pilot phase and has ambitious plans for further expansion into 2025.

Given the impact achieved in Uganda, DSW is now expanding POWER to Tanzania in 2024.This initiative will align with the countries national framework ‘Vision 2025’ strategy, aimed at addressing socio-economic challenges. Offering comprehensive in-person and online training, the accelerator has been designed to equip women-led start-up owners with vital skills, mentorship/coaching, and leadership development, which also includes the development of an alumni-network to ensure continued support and network expansion. Similar to POWER in Uganda, the accelerator also integrates with DSW’s youth clubs and Youth Empowerment Centres, ensuring sustainability of the approach and development of future, locally driven enterprises for reproductive health.

Join us in shaping a future where POWER empowers women leaders, transforms communities, and drives local, sustainable change!

Joan Patience

Sumayyah Nakimuli Sengendo

Natukunda Sharon

Rebecca Florence

Evelyn Logose

Mary Yaar

Vickie Sharon

Babirye Angel

Edith Atim

Fatuma Imanet

Maureen Kamara

Winnie Nabukeera

Have we sparked your interest?

For more information about this pilot and its potential, reach out to project manager Shane.

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Your Contact Person

Shane O’Halloran

Head of Digital Transformation & Business Development Unit

Telephone: +49 (0)30 240006917
Email: shane.ohalloran[at]dsw.org

Testamentary donations

If you wish to leave a portion of your assets to DSW, you can do so in your will or inheritance contract. If you have a life insurance policy or a savings or share contract, you can also name DSW as the beneficiary.

Thinking of tomorrow today

Legal succession and wills

Tax-free allowance and inheritance tax

Depending on the assets to be inherited and the family relationship, the state grants different tax allowances on the assets. The more distant the family relationship, the higher the tax rate and the lower the tax-free amount. Only non-profit organisations and foundations such as DSW are exempt from inheritance tax.

Get advice

Because of the many ways in which your will can be drafted, we recommend that you seek legal advice.

You ask yourself

Where do I want to leave traces and pass on my values beyond my lifetime? Who do I want to leave my legacy to?

Our Promise

By remembering DSW in your will, you give young people in East Africa the chance to lead healthy and self-determined lives. We will handle your estate professionally, respectfully and in accordance with your wishes – that is our promise to you.

  • Every contribution makes a dig difference. Even a small donation can make a big difference and empower young people. Find out more about how we work on our website.
  • Your decision is central. We understand that circumstances can change. We can adapt your will to reflect your current personal preferences.
  • You have various options. If you want your support to have a direct impact after your death, you can include DSW in your will. Or you can make a long-term and sustainable impact with an endowmen fund.
  • Play an active role in shaping the future. The choices you make will affect the world long after you are gone. You are giving other people a fair and just chance in life.
  • We are here for you. We are by your side in this important matter.

“It is very important to me to live as sustainably as possible and to support DSW’s preventative project approach.”

“I have been involved with DSW since 2002. My travels to East Africa in the 1970s and 90s left a deep impression on me. Over the years, I have observed that the African continent is facing great challenges due to its growing population – with consequences for local living conditions, but also for the economy and the environment. It is therefore very important to me to live as sustainably as possible and to support DSW’s preventative project approach. That is why I have decided to support DSW with my legacy. I find it reassuring to know that I can help shape the future after my death and give young people a perspective.”

Christian Schrom, DSW co-founder and long-time sponsor

Empowering young people in East Africa with your legacy

In most East African countries, not only is access to contraceptives and health services limited, there is also a lack of educational programmes for young people. Young people in particular are at increased risk of unintended pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases. Informed and healthy young people can shape their own futures and hold great potential for the future of their countries.

Since 1995, DSW has therefore established a network of youth clubs for sexuality education and health prevention in Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda. In the clubs, peer educators trained by us inform their peers about how they can protect themselves from unintended pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases. We combine our education programme with training and further education measures. These empower young people to improve their lives independently and in the long term.

The youth clubs also organise their own awareness campaigns in their communities and send trained members to advocate for young people at the political level. In this way, we engage parents, teachers and community members in sustainable social change and ensure that policymakers in East Africa prioritise and fund the health sector.

Motivations for charitable bequests

Source: Initiative “Mein Erbe tut Gutes. Das Prinzip Apfelbaum”, GfK-Umfrage “Gemeinnütziges Vererben in Deutschland”, 2019

Frequently asked questions

For a comprehensive overview of the topics of wills and inheritance law, we recommend the brochure “Erben und Vererben” (only available in German) from the Federal Ministry of Justice and Consumer Protection, which you can download here.

You yourself can choose the focus of your support during your lifetime. If you do not, your legacy will be used to fund projects that improve the lives of young people in East Africa. Your gift will go towards education programmes, health services and awareness raising to create lasting change.

Yes, you can adjust your testamentary donation to Deutsche Stiftung Weltbevölkerung (DSW) in your will if your circumstances or preferences change.

You have a number of options for organising your support. You can make a one-off donation in your will or make a long-term impact by establishing an endowment fund under the umbrella of DSW or by making by making an endowment to DSW in your will..

As we are unable to provide legal advice, please contact your lawyer or notary directly to amend your will. We will, of course, assist you throughout the process.

It is always a good idea to make a will. This is the only way to determine who should receive your assets. If there is no will, your relatives or the state will inherit. A will should be drafted in such a way that its provisions are valid regardless of the size of your estate.

If you would like to include severalorganisatons in your will and you have no relatives, it may be helpful to name only one or a few organisations as direct beneficiaries. You can leave a legacy, for example a certain amount of money, to the other organisations. This makes it easier to reach agreement among the few beneficiaries.

You can add to, amend or revoke your will at any time without giving a reason. If you have concluded an inheritance contract, you can no longer unilaterally change the inheritance promise, unless the contract reserves the right to revoke. You can only revoke or amend a joint will together as long as both spouses or partners are alive. After the death of one partner, the surviving partner is bound by the joint will, unless you have stipulated in your will that the surviving partner can make new testamentary dispositions. Please consult your lawyer or notary for advice.

Does this appeal to you? Arrange a personal consultation.

Would you like to support DSW with part of your estate or through a foundation? Please contact us, we look forward to hearing from you and developing opportunities together.

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Your contact person

Sina Rabe

Head of Fundraising Unit

Telephone: +49 511 94373-15
Email: sina.rabe[at]dsw.org

Our donations account

Deutsche Stiftung Weltbevölkerung (DSW)
IBAN: DE56 2504 0066 0383 8380 00
BIC: COBADEFFXXX
Or donate online here 

Submit a report

If you know or suspect that the DSW Code of Conduct or a policy has been violated, we urge you to report it. The DSW reporting system provides three formal channels for reporting concerns and incidents.

DSW’s reporting system offers three formal channels for reporting concerns and incidents.

You can contact an external person of trust by e-mail. External persons of trust have specialist knowledge in the field of safeguarding and know DSW well, but have an independent relationship with the organisation. They will forward the report (anonymously if requested) for processing. Each country office and European office is assigned an external person of trust who can be contacted via separate e-mail addresses:

European offices

Ethiopian Office

Kenyan Office

Tanzanian Office

Jan Kreutzberg

Executive Director

Telephone: +49 511 94373-0
Email: hannover@dsw.org

Angela Bähr

Deputy Executive Director | Director Projects & Programmes

Telephone: +49 511 94373-0
Email: hannover@dsw.org

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DSW’s safeguarding regulations

For more information about our safeguarding regulations, you can download our corresponding booklet.

Every contribution makes a big difference

For more than 30 years, DSW has been committed to empowering and educating young people. DSW helps girls and women to decide for themselves when to start a family. This freedom of choice not only improves individual living conditions, it is also the basis for sustainable population development.

On this page you will find various ways to support our work. If you have any questions, contact us we are happy to advise you!

Helping people to help themselves

in East Africa

Provide sustainable help

in over 11 projects

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How you can help

Donate regularly

Donate regularly

Together we can strengthen young people’s sexual and reproductive rights! Your regular donation gives you, us and the young people on the ground considerable planning security and saves on administrative costs.

Help as a company

Help as a company

Your company’s commitment to DSW’s work not only supports our projects, but also contributes positively to your image. We are happy to advise you on the type of commitment that is right for your company.

Passing on your legacy

Passing on your legacy

Many people are committed to making the world a better place during their lifetime and want this commitment to continue after their death. Here we show how you can leave something behind with DSW or how can honour the memory of a loved one in a special way.

Gift a donation

Gift a donation

Would you like to make your loved ones happy and support young people in East Africa at the same time? Donate to DSW and gift your loved one a personalised donation certificate.

Celebrate and do good

Celebrate and do good

Do you have a special occasion coming up but you don’t want any big presents? Then use your celebration to help young people in East Africa realise their right to family planning. It’s easy and will make a big diffenrence to the lives of young people in East Africa.

Get active

Get active

Are you planning on completing a half marathon? A walk? Have friends and family cheer you on as you “run” to raise money for DSW. And of course, there are many other creative ways to start your own fundraising campaign.

Haven’t found what you are looking for?

Haven’t found what you are looking for?

Do you have a unique idea but don’t know how to make it happen? We are here to help.

Your contact persons

Thank you very much for your valuable support! DSW’s work would not be possible without you. Do you have questions? Our fundraising team is looking forward to your call.

Sina Rabe

Head of Fundraising Unit

Telephone: +49 511 94373-15
Email: sina.rabe@dsw.org

Carola Ahlborn-Schuklies

Fundraising Officer

Telephone: +49 511 94373-13
Email: carola.ahlborn-schuklies@dsw.org

Anke Witte

Senior Fundraising Officer

Telephone: +49 511 94373-32
Email: anke.witte@dsw.org

Our donations account

Deutsche Stiftung Weltbevölkerung (DSW)
IBAN: DE56 2504 0066 0383 8380 00
BIC: COBADEFFXXX
Or donate online here 

Supported by you

We regularly publish success stories of our work that have been made possible by your donations. Here are two examples.

Mwanaima from Tanzania

24-year-old Mwanaima from Tanzania is representative of many young women in East Africa who are unable to exercise their rights. She comes from a village near the city of Arusha, where sexual violence, teenage pregnancy and female genital mutilation are commonplace. Through DSW, she has learnt to stand up for her rights, to take care of herself and to make her own decisions about her body, including whether she wants to have children one day. DSW and its local partners have been able to reach out to many young women like Mwanaima and carry out important awareness-raising work in their communities.

Catherine from Kenya

For a self-determined and healthy life

For more than 30 years, we have been working in East Africa to empower young people to make their own decisions about sexuality and contraception. At the political level in Germany, the EU, East Africa and in international alliances, we are committed to strengthening sexual and reproductive health and rights, greater gender equality, global health and the fight against poverty-related and neglected diseases.

Deutsche Stiftung Weltbevölkerung (DSW) was founded in 1991 by entrepreneurs Erhard Schreiber (†) and Dirk Roßmann from Hannover, to contribute to sustainable population development. The reason for the world’s growing population soon became clear: many women and girls were having more children than they wanted. The human right to family planning therefore became the focus of our work. As young people face particular challenges when it comes to information on sexuality and contraception, they are at the centre of our work.

Our mission

We envision a world in which all young people live healthy lives and make informed decisions about their reproductive lives.

Who we are

Our vision

Our vision

What we believe in, what we dream of and how we work to make it happen.

Our team

Our team

DSW’s structures and teams.

Our political work

Our political work

Political dialogue for a healthier and fairer world.

Our history

Our history

A behind-the-scenes look at 30 years of DSW.

Our projects

Our projects

How we work with our local partners.

Where we work

We work on two levels to pursue our goals: In Europe, to give our concerns a voice at a political level. And on the ground

Our advocacy work in Germany and in the EU.

DSW’s headquarters are in Hannover. In Berlin and Brussels, we work to convince political decision-makers of our goals and gain their support.

Click on the highlighted cities/countries to find out more about our offices.
Project work in East Africa

We work with people who give their all to improve living conditions. We support them with sustainable concepts and strong partnerships.

Click on the highlighted cities/countries to find out more about our offices.

What we work for

We envision a world where all young people – especially girls and young women – can live free from disease and make empowered choices through full access to sexuality education, health services and modern contraception.

Sexuality education and contraception

Educating young people about their bodies and sexuality, and giving them access to contraceptives and age-appropriate health care are core tasks for us. Voluntary family planning is a prerequisite for an empowered future.

Equal rights for all

A key aim of our educational work is bodily autonomy, especially for girls and women. But it is also important to convey to young men that any form of violence against women is not the basis for a healthy relationship. Women’s empowerment is a key to a sustainable society.

Future prospects for young people

We are committed to the full participation of young people in East Africa by strengthening their voices, promoting education and creating opportunities for political participation.

Political dialogue

We work to achieve our goals at all political and social levels, regionally, nationally and internationally. We do this through our teams in Berlin, Brussels and East Africa, but also by training young people locally to stand up for their rights and have a say in politics.

Our Projects

Deutsche Stiftung Weltbevölkerung (DSW) is one of the few German organisations that promotes the right to family planning in development cooperation. In particular, we support young people in East Africa to make self-determined decisions about their sexuality and contraception.

We have chosen a selection of our projects to give you an insight into our work in the East African countries of Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda. This page will be updated regularly.

What sets our initiatives apart

Our approach

Sub-Saharan Africa has the youngest population in the world – almost one in two people is under the age of 15. This generation of young people holds great potential for the development of their home countries. Through our projects in Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda, we are committed to providing young people with education and health initiatives that give them the chance of a better future.

In our projects, young people can learn about taboo topics such as sexuality and contraception. For example, they learn how to protect themselves from unintended pregnancy and HIV. A special feature of our work is the principle of “by young people, for young people”. This allows young people to talk openly about sensitive issues. They can also share their experiences and knowledge with each other in a friendly and safe environment.

Through our educational work and our training programmes young people gain the skills to how to earn their own income. In this way, we help them to stand on their own two feet and escape poverty. We also involve parents, teachers, political and religious leaders, and communities in our project work to achieve the greatest and most sustainable impact.

Impressions from current projects

Flying Nurses trained by us offer important medical services to (mainly young) people in Ethiopia.

POWER is an initiative funded by DSW and led by our partner Action for Health Uganda to promote female-led business start-ups.

The project “Afya yangu – shule yangu” (“My health – my school”) is aimed at young women and girls between the ages of 15 and 19.

The Youth Truck is very popular. Many young people come to the truck to get information, education and communication material and condoms.

For many young people, talking to their parents about contraception is out of the question. This is where the “Life Yangu” app comes into play.

Youth for Health (Y4H) is an EU co-funded initiative that aims to improve access to sexual and reproductive healthcare and rights for young people.

What sets our initiatives apart

Helping people to help themselves

The principle of ‘helping people to help themselves’ is central to development cooperation because it promotes long-term, sustainable change. Rather than offering short-term solutions, this principle focuses on strengthening the skills and resources of local communities. By empowering people to solve their own problems and improve their lives, sustainable development becomes possible. This approach promotes personal responsibility, independence and the development of skills within communities, leading to a sustainable and lasting improvement in the quality of life, without creating permanent dependency on external assistance. It is also central to put young people and their needs and aspirations at the centre, without ignoring their environment.

Measuring impact

Collecting and analysing data is a key part of our project work. Many of our projects are evaluated by external experts – as required by donors – or we commission studies ourselves. We also use a web-based database in which we systematically record and analyse our impact observations and project progress. To do this, we train our teams and peer educators to collect data on the impact of our work. They ask their peers whether education, information and advice has helped them. This data is particularly useful to us because it feeds directly into our project work.

An example

Project “Flying Nurses”

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Age-appropriate (and discreet) health care for young people is the goal of the Youth-Friendly Clinics (YFC), which began as a pilot project in Asela in 2022 and has since expanded to five clinics. Young patients do not have to sit with adults in a waiting room where they might meet friends or relatives. This is often a problem when it comes to topic of sex and sexual and reproductive health in Ethiopia, especially in rural areas where people know each other.

Another challenge is the vast distances involved. The youth-friendly clinics are addressing this issue with “flying nurses”, who provide family planning services in remote communities. One of them is 23-year-old Makeya. “DSW trained me,” she says, “and now I can use this knowledge to help the girls and young women who need it most.” But it is not always easy: “Most of the time we rely on vehicles, but sometimes we have to walk to reach remote communities,” Makeya says. Their patients are all the more grateful for this. Makeya now hopes to expand: “We want to reach more people and give them the basic contraceptive services they deserve,” she says. The five clinics are located in the Amhara, Oromia and SNNP regions. They work closely with local health authorities and centres. DSW aims to improve access, quality and utilisation of health services for young people, especially women and girls aged 15-29. Staff from the Ministry of Health have also been brought on board to promote the YFC. The youth-friendly information will also be translated into local languages.

Our focus on Africa

The world is young. About 42 per cent of the world’s 8 billion people are children, adolescents and young adults up to the age of 24. Their share of the population is particularly high in developing countries. In Europe, around 27 percent of the population is under the age of 24; in Africa, the figure is more than twice as high at 60 percent. Young people can be the key to development, especially in the poorer regions of the world. However, this requires that girls and boys have access to good health care, education and work, know their (basic) rights and are able to plan their own families. For over 30 years, we have therefore been carrying out educational work in East Africa and campaigning at political level in Germany and the EU to ensure that sustainable population development is on the international political agenda.

Our project database

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Empowering young women with HIV

Empowering young women with HIV Schlüsselaktivitäten

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TeamUp project in Uganda

Prospects for young people – TeamUp in Uganda Key activities

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Sexuality education in informal settlements

Sexuality education in informal settlements Schlüsselaktivitäten

read more

More health in the workplace

More health in the workplace Schlüsselaktivitäten

read more

My health – My school

My health – My school Schlüsselaktivitäten

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Health and training for youth

Health and training for youth Schlüsselaktivitäten

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