Sexual & Reproductive Health and Rights Program

Brown Girl Woke's SRHR program empowers young people, women, fa'afafine and gender diverse communities with knowledge, support and services to make informed choices about their bodies, health and futures.

My Body. My Rights. My Life. My Future

Brown Girl Woke's SRHR program empowers young people, women, fa'afafine and gender diverse communities with knowledge, support and services to make informed choices about their bodies, health and futures.

The Challenge :

In Samoa, accessing sexual and reproductive health information and services can sometimes be met with stigma, discrimination, or judgment. Many young people, women, and marginalized communities—including fa'afafine, gender-diverse individuals, LGBTQIA+ communities, sex workers, and people with disabilities—lack culturally respectful, safe spaces to ask questions and challenge myths. Without access to accurate information and trusted health services, it becomes difficult for individuals to make informed, safe, and empowered decisions about their own bodies, health, and futures.

Our Solutions:

At Brown Girl Woke, we believe that "Knowledge is Power. Health is a Right." We address these challenges by empowering our communities with knowledge, support, and linkage to services.

  • Interactive SRHR Workshops: Rather than traditional lectures, we use games, group activities, storytelling, role plays, and open dialogue to make learning enjoyable and meaningful. We cover vital topics like sexuality, consent, contraception, and menstrual health.

  • Creating Safe Spaces: We establish youth-centered, safe, and confidential environments where participants can ask questions freely, learn from trusted facilitators, and have their privacy and dignity respected.

  • Linkage to Services & Support for All: We actively connect participants with trusted health services and support networks, ensuring our outreach includes all genders, abilities, sexual orientations, and backgrounds.

  • Community & Church Partnerships: We work respectfully alongside church leaders, youth coordinators, schools, and health providers to create welcoming environments. By doing so, we prove that meaningful conversations about health, dignity, and respect can take place while honoring Samoan community values.

  • Advocacy & Rights: We challenge stigma, promote human rights, and empower stronger voices to advocate for inclusion and change in our communities.

Program Quick Facts

Duration

Series of workshops

Location

Around Apia

Age Group

Secondary School & Above

What is SRHR?

SRHR means the right of all people to make decisions about our sexual health and reproduction freely and safely.

It includes the right to:

  • Accurate information

  • Access to quality health services

  • Respect, privacy, and dignity

  • Make choices about our bodies and lives

  • Live free from violence, coercion, and discrimination

Our Core Commitments

Brown Girl Woke remains commited to ensuring that every young person has access to:

Accurate Health Information

Sharing youth-friendly, factual knowledge.

Safe & Inclusive Learning Spaces

Your Privacy and safety are always our priority.

Respectful Discussions

Honouring dignity and community values.

Trusted Referrals

Linking you to the support services you need.

Leadership Opportunities

Empowering youth to become leaders and advocates for their own rights.

What We Teach

Students participate in interactive discussions covering:

Understanding our bodies & healthy development (puberty)

Healthy relationships, consent, and respect

Gender equality & preventing Gender-Based Violence (GBV)

Sexual and reproductive health

Human rights and personal wellbeing

Mental health & self-confidence

Where We Work

Our SHRH education program reaches across Samoa to deliver interactive workshops designed specifically for:

Secondary Schools

Community Youth Groups

Churches and Faith-Based Youth Fellowships

Community Organisations

Safe Community Spaces

"This initiative has changed everything for my community. Learning to make reusable pads in the Sewing Circle hasn't just provided me with an income to support my family; it has given our local girls the dignity to stay in school all month long. The health education we received shattered so much of the stigma we used to face. I feel so empowered knowing we are protecting our beautiful island environment and looking after our young women at the same time."

- Sina Taufo