Family planning is a necessary service for girls such as Sabina. She is a good example of a child having a child of her own. Photo: Marie Stopes International

Family planning for girls means shaking up centuries of harmful tradition. Hundreds of thousands of young mothers die every year in Africa because millions of women do not have the power to plan their families.

For Sabina (16), a single mother with a three month old baby from the Coast Province of Kenya, life has proven that investing in family planning for adolescent girls can change society and keep a significant number in school.

After falling pregnant, Sabina was forced to drop out of school and take care of her newborn child. However, with the support from her family, Sabina is not prepared to give up her dream of going back to school.

As a result of her determination, Sabina's mother invited a community health worker to discuss reproductive health with her daughter. Following the discussion, Sabina visited Gahaleni Dispensary to get further information on reproductive health. It was during this visit that Sabina met the Marie Stopes outreach team offering free family planning services and information.

Following a counselling session Sabina chose a five year implant as her choice of contraceptive. Access to family planning has allowed Sabina to plan and avoid another pregnancy. She has returned to school where she is performing well and hopes to be a teacher. Her mother has agreed to take care of Sabina's child whenever she is at school.

The ability of women and adolescent girls to regulate their fertility through access to family planning contributes to a self-reinforcing cycle of empowerment and positive change. Sabina's story is one of the many examples of how parent involvement in sexual and reproductive health can have positive impacts on the lives of adolescent girls.

The Coast Province of Kenya has the second highest rate of teenage pregnancy, yet young single mothers are often left out of sexual and reproductive health interventions and programs. Through AACES, Marie Stopes will continue to design a range of targeted interventions to increase access to and uptake of equity sensitive sexual and reproductive health services and information for both school-based and non-school-based youth (including a focus on young mothers) living in the coastal region.

Australia Africa Community Engagement Scheme Annual Report 2011–12