The Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA) of Liberia, in partnership with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), hosted a one-day workshop on Friday, September 26, 2025. The event, titled “Innovation for Change: Youth-Led Tech Solutions for Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights (SRHR) in Liberia,” focused on empowering young people to develop innovative approaches to advancing SRHR in the country.
Participants at the Hackathon for Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights (SRHR) Workshop
Welcoming participants to the workshop, Mrs. Vonyee Newton Kolison, National General Secretary of the Liberia YMCA, underscored the critical role of technology in advancing youth development. She noted that partner organizations remain committed to ensuring that young people are not left behind in a rapidly evolving world where technology serves as a driving force for progress.
YMCA National General Secretary/CEO, Mrs. Vonyee N. Kolison
The Liberia YMCA National General Secretary stressed the importance of ensuring that young people remain at the forefront of technological advancement. She highlighted the partnership between UNFPA and YMCA as a key step toward expanding youth access to digital information.
According to her, the workshop was designed to provide insights into the Hackathon for Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights (SRHR) program, noting that digitalization is central to the initiative. “We have established a digital hub where young people can conduct research and access vital information,” she said.
“We called on young people to create, innovate, and ensure their ideas take them to the next level,” she said. Mrs. Vonyee Newton Kolison expressed gratitude to all partners involved in the Youth-Led Tech Solutions for Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights (SRHR) in Liberia, noting that the YMCA could not have reached so many young people—especially those in hard-to-reach communities—without their support.
Mr. Calixte Hessou of the UNFPA, in remarks, noted that Adolescents Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights in Liberia represent one of the most pressing public health and development challenges. The consequences of limited action and services are severe, leading to significant health, social, and economic burdens that perpetuate cycles of poverty and educational disadvantages within communities.
Mr. Calixte Hessou-UNFPA Liberia
Mr. Hessou noted that improving SRHR outcomes goes beyond simply assuring the availability of commodities, noting that two critical barriers impede programs, which are behavioral disconnect and supply chain disconnect. He noted that the innovation for change initiative aims to close these two critical gaps by harnessing the power of technology and the creativity of young people.
Mr Hessou stressed that the success of the Innovation for Change workshop depends on assembling a diverse multi-disciplinary group of highly motivated individuals who can contribute unique perspectives and skills.
The workshop featured presentations on key topics, including Understanding SRHR Challenges in Liberia, which aimed to equip participants with a deeper understanding of sexual and reproductive health issues, existing barriers, and their impact on young people and communities. Another session, Unpacking Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (GBV) in Liberia, focused on enabling participants to integrate safety, privacy, and discreet SRHR solutions in support of GBV survivors.
Other sessions at the workshop covered Leveraging Technology for Public Health, where participants explored scalable, accessible, and culturally sensitive tech solutions for advancing SRHR. Another session, From Idea to Prototype: A Practical Guide, focused on equipping young people with clear strategies for developing prototypes and delivering compelling pitches for youth-led solutions in Liberia.
The “Innovating for Change: Youth-Led Tech Solutions for Inclusive Access to SRHR” Hackathon is hosted by YMCA Liberia and funded by the United Nations Peace Building Fund.
The event highlighted technology-driven prototypes designed to address sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) challenges faced by Liberian youth aged 10–24. Proposed solutions included offline-capable Chatbots, AI-powered counseling tools, SMS alert systems, and geo-mapped safe spaces, all aligned with 12 Liberia-specific use cases.
Emphasis was placed on low-bandwidth designs that function both online and offline, as well as the use of ethical artificial intelligence to ensure cultural sensitivity, accessibility for youth with low digital literacy, and inclusivity for marginalized groups, including youth with disabilities.
The Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA) of Liberia, in partnership with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), hosted a one-day workshop on Friday, September 26, 2025. The event, titled “Innovation for Change: Youth-Led Tech Solutions for Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights (SRHR) in Liberia,” focused on empowering young people to develop innovative approaches to advancing SRHR in the country.
Participants at the Hackathon for Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights (SRHR) Workshop
Welcoming participants to the workshop, Mrs. Vonyee Newton Kolison, National General Secretary of the Liberia YMCA, underscored the critical role of technology in advancing youth development. She noted that partner organizations remain committed to ensuring that young people are not left behind in a rapidly evolving world where technology serves as a driving force for progress.
YMCA National General Secretary/CEO, Mrs. Vonyee N. Kolison
The Liberia YMCA National General Secretary stressed the importance of ensuring that young people remain at the forefront of technological advancement. She highlighted the partnership between UNFPA and YMCA as a key step toward expanding youth access to digital information.
According to her, the workshop was designed to provide insights into the Hackathon for Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights (SRHR) program, noting that digitalization is central to the initiative. “We have established a digital hub where young people can conduct research and access vital information,” she said.
“We called on young people to create, innovate, and ensure their ideas take them to the next level,” she said. Mrs. Vonyee Newton Kolison expressed gratitude to all partners involved in the Youth-Led Tech Solutions for Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights (SRHR) in Liberia, noting that the YMCA could not have reached so many young people—especially those in hard-to-reach communities—without their support.
Mr. Calixte Hessou of the UNFPA, in remarks, noted that Adolescents Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights in Liberia represent one of the most pressing public health and development challenges. The consequences of limited action and services are severe, leading to significant health, social, and economic burdens that perpetuate cycles of poverty and educational disadvantages within communities.
Mr. Calixte Hessou-UNFPA Liberia
Mr. Hessou noted that improving SRHR outcomes goes beyond simply assuring the availability of commodities, noting that two critical barriers impede programs, which are behavioral disconnect and supply chain disconnect. He noted that the innovation for change initiative aims to close these two critical gaps by harnessing the power of technology and the creativity of young people.
Mr Hessou stressed that the success of the Innovation for Change workshop depends on assembling a diverse multi-disciplinary group of highly motivated individuals who can contribute unique perspectives and skills.
The workshop featured presentations on key topics, including Understanding SRHR Challenges in Liberia, which aimed to equip participants with a deeper understanding of sexual and reproductive health issues, existing barriers, and their impact on young people and communities. Another session, Unpacking Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (GBV) in Liberia, focused on enabling participants to integrate safety, privacy, and discreet SRHR solutions in support of GBV survivors.
Other sessions at the workshop covered Leveraging Technology for Public Health, where participants explored scalable, accessible, and culturally sensitive tech solutions for advancing SRHR. Another session, From Idea to Prototype: A Practical Guide, focused on equipping young people with clear strategies for developing prototypes and delivering compelling pitches for youth-led solutions in Liberia.
The “Innovating for Change: Youth-Led Tech Solutions for Inclusive Access to SRHR” Hackathon is hosted by YMCA Liberia and funded by the United Nations Peace Building Fund.
The event highlighted technology-driven prototypes designed to address sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) challenges faced by Liberian youth aged 10–24. Proposed solutions included offline-capable Chatbots, AI-powered counseling tools, SMS alert systems, and geo-mapped safe spaces, all aligned with 12 Liberia-specific use cases.
Emphasis was placed on low-bandwidth designs that function both online and offline, as well as the use of ethical artificial intelligence to ensure cultural sensitivity, accessibility for youth with low digital literacy, and inclusivity for marginalized groups, including youth with disabilities.