WHAT WE DO: Social Change

In many parts of the developing world, traditional values create major barriers to accessing reproductive health information and services. Often, cultural and religious beliefs clash with the concept of family planning and women are expected to marry early and have many children at the expense of their health and education, and the well-being of their families. In some places, harmful traditional practices, such as female genital cutting and forced early marriage, persist despite national laws forbidding them.

Pathfinder International works with communities around the world to explore these norms and values and to affect collaborative change. Through open dialogue with community and faith-based leaders, advocacy sessions with police, judiciary, and legal bodies, and collaboration with local media outlets and advocacy groups, Pathfinder reaches individuals and communities with the knowledge and information needed to improve their societies.

Featured Projects

	Nigeria: ENHANSE: Working with local Imams and other respected leaders in Nigeria’s Muslim-dominated north to influence community opinion and affect relevant policy changes in the areas of HIV/AIDS, safe motherhood, child survival, and basic education.

	Ethiopia: Women's and Girls Empowerment Project: Assisting women and girls to overcome obstacles such as early marriage, high rates of gender-based violence, and female genital cutting; promoting women’s empowerment though education, economic self-sufficiency, legal assistance, and access to reproductive health care.

	India: Mukta: Empowering sex workers to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted infections, thereby combating stigmatization and gaining greater control over their lives.

Featured Publication

Advancing Reproductive Health and Family Planning through Religious Leaders and Faith-Based Organizations, 2006 Throughout the world religious leaders are looked to for guidance and advice on all aspects of life. Pathfinder reaches out to religious leaders to enlist their active support of various reproductive health and family planning initiatives. This report chronicles Pathfinder's work with religious leaders and faith-based organizations in Bangladesh, Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, and Uganda.

More Publications: Social Change 

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Saluting Leading Women: With the help of Pathfinder and local partner NGO, Fikirte Hailu leaves behind a life of prostitution to become a leader in her community.

Mukta Project Holds Advocacy Workshop with Local Police: Officers and sex workers pledge commitment to HIV/AIDS prevention.