Every day, Olivia picks up the phone to hear the voices of young people who feel scared, confused or utterly alone. As a youth contact centre agent, she answers questions about relationships, sexual health and reproductive choices. For many of the young people she speaks with, Olivia is the very first person they’ve ever dared to talk to about sex or contraception. She says:
“For those who don’t feel like they have anyone to talk to, my role is crucial. Sometimes it’s about giving information – but often it’s about providing emotional support too.”
She remembers one call vividly: a young woman, only three months after giving birth, who was devastated to learn she was pregnant again. She wanted to return to work but felt overwhelmed, with no idea what to do.
Through MSI, Olivia was able to provide her with all the options available. The young woman arranged a telemedicine consultation and, for the first time, felt she could make her own decision about her body and her future.
“She was so grateful for that choice,” Olivia recalls.
Yet in Ghana, talking openly about sexual health is still difficult. Olivia knows that stigma surrounds her work – even within her own family.
“At first it was hard for me to share with my family, and with my father, where I was working due to the stigma surrounding abortion and contraception in Ghana. But once I told him what I did, he was really happy that I was working to help women.”
Because of your support, Olivia and her colleagues are breaking through silence and stigma. You are giving young people the courage to ask questions, the strength to be heard, and the freedom to choose their own futures.
Thank you for standing with them.
