Centro Mujeres’ adolescent program Jóvenes en Acción (JEA), (Youth in Action) is a peer driven program that works directly with adolescents in their own environments. This program is based on multi-intervention strategies aimed at pregnancy prevention, violence prevention within the young couple and suicide prevention.

  • More than half (54%) of teens aged 15-23 in Mexico share that they do not use protection during intercourse, putting them at greatly increased risk for sexually transmitted infections and unplanned pregnancy.
  • In Baja California Sur one out of every five pregnancies are from adolescents younger than 19 years old.

How It Works

To change, motivate and support healthy and responsible behavior, it is important to start with our young people. Working directly with youth within schools and other community settings, Centro Mujeres works to create the conditions needed so that young people are able to act responsibly and  exercise their reproductive and sexual rights.

Jóvenes en Acción provides program participants with the training and support they need so that they have the tools to coach, lead, educate, and advocate with and for their peers around sexual and reproductive health and rights.

logo-jeaAs the only rights promotion program for teens in the state of BCS, Jóvenes en Acción has been active since the year 2000, with great achievements. The program has contributed to the elimination of backpack searches in junior and senior high schools, prohibiting expulsion of pregnant teens from schools, the establishment of teen-friendly medical facilities within public health services, and a decrease of the absolute rate of teen pregnancy in every school the program is established, among others.

The Jóvenes en Acción  program has been recognized and celebrated by both the county of La Paz and the state of Baja California Sur for its contributions to the health and wellbeing of youth and adolescents in the state.

liderazgo-cbtis62

Like many adolescents, I lived my life without worries, without limits, and never thought about the consequences of my actions. ~Hector, diagnosed with HIV at 15 years old in La Paz, B.C.S.

Testimonials

Sarah approached the JEA Módulo in her school worried that she was pregnant. She had unprotected sex with her boyfriend, and hadn’t had her period. Juan, the JEA leader attending the módulo explained to her about her menstrual cycle, and gave her the JEA calendar to track her menstruation. She discovered that, in fact, her period was not late. Juan took the opportunity to demonstrate the correct use of the condom, and had her practice on his fingers so that she was comfortable negotiating or helping her boyfriend use the condom. – JEA Módulo Cetmar

Felipe is in 10th grade and has had the same girlfriend since the last two years. Every Friday he goes to the JEA Módulo for condoms. Felipe recently told Devony: “I get condoms every week for me and for my friends, just in case we get to use them! You know Rita and I have had sex since Junior High and never used condoms because they are too expensive. It is so good to have them here for free!”– JEA Módulo Cobach Esterito.

Stand Informativo, Contraceptive Display
Stand Informativo, Contraceptive Display