By S.Browne. Updated 3:45 p.m., Wednesday, August 12, 2026, Atlantic Standard Time (GMT-4).
St. Vincent and the Grenadines is among four Eastern Caribbean countries involved in a regional initiative aimed at strengthening adolescent health and improving the support available to young people.
The Reproductive Education and Adolescent Health Community (REACH) Project is being implemented in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Dominica, Grenada and Saint Lucia, with a focus on equipping adolescents with knowledge and confidence to make informed decisions about their health and well-being.
The initiative is addressing areas including sexual and reproductive health, mental health, nutrition, healthy relationships and communication between parents and teenagers.
The project comes into focus on International Youth Day, observed annually on August 12 and being marked this year under the theme, “Different Contexts, Common Aspirations.”
REACH has been working with Ministries of Health in the four participating countries, along with the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) and the Caribbean Technical Assistance & Education Centre for Health (C-TECH), to strengthen adolescent health across the region.
The project recently launched a series of webinars designed to provide a safe space for adolescents, parents, educators, healthcare providers and community leaders to discuss issues affecting young people.
Between March and May 2026, the project also provided orientation training to more than 138 representatives from Ministries of Health and civil society organisations.
According to the project, the training covered sexual and reproductive health, anti-stigma approaches, adolescent strengths and understanding the developing teenage brain.
The initiative also recognises that improving adolescent health requires more than information and education.
In Saint Lucia, the project funded the distribution of 500 hygiene kits to schools in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, Wellness and Nutrition, providing adolescents with access to essential hygiene supplies.
The REACH Project says its broader approach is focused on “no adolescent is left behind” in the four participating countries.
It aims to strengthen the capacity of service providers to deliver adolescent-friendly services, particularly in sexual and reproductive health, while empowering young people to advocate for their own health and well-being.
Funded by Global Affairs Canada, REACH is a four-year regional initiative implemented by Alinea International in collaboration with C-TECH and the OECS Commission.
For St. Vincent and the Grenadines, participation in the regional initiative places adolescent health within a wider Caribbean effort to ensure young people have access to the information, services and support needed to make informed choices and build healthier futures.
The project says investing in young people is an investment in “stronger communities, more resilient societies, and a brighter future for the Region.”
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