Delivering Voices - Youth Advocacy in Regional Project

In March 2005, JOICFP conducted Approduction training in Cambodia to provide basic skills in process documentation, and to provide orientation on a regional advocacy kit development as part of the UNFPA Asia Regional Project "Strengthening Advocacy for ASRH through Youth Initiative" (RAS5R205).

Since then, 120 'voices' on the issues of ASRH were collected by youth volunteers from a diverse range of adolescents and youth at the grassroots level in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Malaysia, and the Philippines.

During the Movah! Youth Advocates' Preparatory Meeting, held under the regional project, the participants selected some of these 'voices' for use in regional advocacy tools, such as a card with messages from youth on it that can be distributed to policy makers.

Obtaining the opinions

Theng, Reproductive Health Association of Cambodia

"Before collecting the voices, we had to make appointments. I found that these young people have very little knowledge on ASRH issues. They are very shy to speak out. They are also afraid since the environment is not so good for them as when we had an interview their parents were around them. It was difficult for them to speak out and we had to go to quiet places.

"We have to expand our information through peer education."

Paolo, President, Asia Pacific ASRH Advocates, the Philippines

"Most of my interviewees are not familiar with ASRH. I didn't explain much since I wanted to know how much they are aware of ASRH. After the interview, I gave some lectures. Individual contact was very important to do this activity.

"I found it hard to approach people who do not know about this issue. When you have an interview, you have to tell something about yourself."

Voices

Some of the voices collected are as follows:

Rin Samnang, 18, Cambodia

"There have been youth who got married at a very early age because they had not understood the problems of having sexual intercourse at a young age. I think that the adolescent and sexual reproductive health program provides the real knowledge to youth on sexual health.

"In the name of the youth representative, I would like to appeal to grandmas, grandpas, fathers and mothers of the youth to let their children participate in the program by not considering it as an obscene thing."

Camille Cabero, 12, the Philippines

"It is very important to have policies on adolescent sexual and reproductive health so that the government's priorities will not change as much every time the administration changes.

"The government should realize the gravity of the youth's condition when it comes to adolescent sexual and reproductive health and use this as a guide in making policies."

James Seow Kim Ong, 22, Malaysia

Policy makers don't understand what they are doing for the youth. They don't let the youth speak up. They don't really know what youths need. They only think of people of their age but not below them. Besides that, give more training on communication skills to youths to improve self-esteem."