In a recent press release, Plan International announced that it partnered with the Institute for Reproductive Health at Georgetown University, Save the Children, and Deutsche Stiftung Weltbevoelkerung (DSW) to create the Very Young Adolescent (VYA) Alliance. The alliance focuses on the sexual and reproductive health challenges facing adolescents who are 10 to 14 years old, who represent approximately 600 million children around the world.
According to Plan International, the majority of reproductive health programs are directed at an older age group, despite the fact that VYAs experience physical and emotional changes that play an important role in their future health. Plan International notes that health interventions with VYAs can help these adolescents develop healthy behaviors, practices, and relationships.