With the expertise in adolescent reproductive health (ARH) and youth empowerment of JOICFP, Kei Yoshidome, Program Officer, JOICFP, was dispatched by JICA to Nicaragua from 21st November to 9th December as a short-term expert for capacity building of ARH promotion and creating a supportive environment, under the JICA project for Strengthening Adolescent Reproductive Health in the Republic of Nicaragua, nicknamed 'Sakura.'

Facilitators' workshop

Yoshidome organized two training sessions for 21 facilitators from Boaco and Granada in the 'Mochila Educativa Program' (MEP) under the Ministry of Health, assisting the facilitators to identify their support roles for ARH promotion.

The educational backpack ...

... and its contents

'Mochila Educativa', or educational backpack, is a backpack containing books on twelve topics, pamphlets and games all designed to encourage adolescents to learn about ARH.

ARH Promoters workshop

In five sessions with ARH Promoters of MEP, Yoshidome assisted the promoters identify their roles and plan activities to promote ARH in the community. Over 60 ARH promoters, facilitators and Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers attended the sessions in Boaco and Granada.

ARH Promoters in Boaco

The attendance by JOCVs will also allow them to support the facilitators and ARH Promoters, and promote MEP in the community.

ARH Promotion Committee workshop

Working with Community ARH Promotion Committees, Yoshidome organized four sessions to help committee members support ARH promotion by ARH Promoters. ARH Promoters also presented their plans for collaborative ARH promotion in the community to the committee members.

The workshops emphasized that adolescents need to be key players in promoting their own health, and that adults and health organizations can and should assist this. They were also key in identifying support and partnerships for ARH promotion.

Youth Forum

Around 350 young people and health staff from all over Nicaragua attended the 5th Nicaraguan National Youth Forum, from 28th to 30th November 2006, to share experience. This was a good opportunity to network as there are ARH clubs in different parts of the community, such as health centers, NGOs and at the municipal level.

JOICFP also introduced the 'Sakura' project to strengthen the sexual reproductive health of adolescents in Nicaragua.

Participants at the Youth Forum