At 17, Aline* from Muyinga had many questions about her body, but no safe place to ask them.
Most of what she knew about sexual and reproductive health came from friends and whispers in the community. She had heard that contraceptives could cause infertility and that young girls who visited health facilities would be judged or exposed. Afraid and unsure, she avoided seeking information or services altogether.
"I was scared to go to the health centre, she said. People talk, and I didn’t know what was true or not."
Aline’s experience reflects a wider reality in Muyinga and across Burundi, where misinformation, stigma, and restrictive social norms prevent many young people, especially adolescent girls, from accessing accurate information and services.
This is where WISH 2 began to make a difference. Working through its partner ABUBEF, WISH 2 introduced an approach that connected communities, young people, and health services. Peer educators, young people like Aline, were trained to lead open, honest conversations in their communities. These sessions created safe spaces where myths could be challenged, and questions could be asked without fear.
Aline attended one of these sessions.
"For the first time, someone explained things clearly, she said. I realized many of the things I believed were not true."
Encouraged by the peer educator, she visited a nearby health facility supported by WISH 2. There, she found a different experience than she had expected, confidential, respectful, and youth friendly. She received counselling that helped her understand her options and make informed decisions about her health.
Aline no longer relied on rumours. She became more confident in seeking information and services, and she began sharing what she learned with her friends. What started as fear and silence turned into awareness and openness, not just for her, but within her circle. This shift is reflected more broadly across Muyinga. Young people are increasingly accessing services, and trust in health facilities is growing. Data from the project shows a steady rise in adolescent and youth SRH service uptake, with particularly strong progress in Muyinga, where utilisation has reached nearly 18%.
"A peer educator explained, when young people hear information from someone like them, they feel safe to ask questions. That is when they begin to trust the services and make their own decisions."
Linking community engagement with youth-friendly services, the project addresses both misinformation and access barriers simultaneously. Young people are not only receiving accurate information but also acting on it in environments that respect their privacy and dignity.
Challenges remain. Stigma and deeply rooted norms do not disappear overnight. But the shift is clear. Conversations are opening up, trust is building, and more young people are taking control of their sexual and reproductive health. What Aline’s and her peers’ story shows is simple but powerful: when young people are given the right information, in the right space, by people they trust, they move from uncertainty to informed choice. This is the difference WISH 2 makes, turning silence into confidence, and misinformation into informed action.
*Name changed for confidentiality.
when
country
Burundi
region
Africa
Subject
Comprehensive Sex Education
