LAUNCH OF THE CAMPAIGN FOR THE FRAMING OF YOUTH POLICY IN UTTAR PRADESH, STARTING 13TH NOVEMBER, 2009

Launching of the Campaing "Yuva Niti Pairokari Abhiyan "

13th November-10th December, 2009

YOUTH FOR CHANGE A 28 days campaign named "Yuva Niti Parokari Abhiyan" was launched on 13th November, 2009 at Press Club, Lucknow, where 80 media people were present apart from youth and eminent persons. The programme was organised by Media Nest. A poster demanding Youth Policy in Uttar Pradesh was launched on this occassion. Please see link

In Uttar Pradesh, youth represent more than six million of the population, aged between 15 and 24 years. Despite forming such a big portion of the state population, there haven't been required policies framed that shall help in the development of youth, and those existing aren't really able to benefit the youth because of the approachability and implementational lags. The main motive behind the formation of youth policy in UP is to be able to work with youth, make them aware of various vital issues affecting them directly or indirectly, gathering their inputs on the same, and also to make provisions for their basic rights so that their participation increases at each level. This will provide them with the opportunity for their holistic development, be it personal, educational, financial, social or political aspect; to infuse optimism in their approach, and thus utilizing their potential for the development of the state.

Youth for Change Programme, which has now been working for three years, focusing on the issue of Youth sexual and reproductive health, in ten districts of UP, plans to launch a campaign on 13th November, 2009, also at the state level, a meeting highlighting the same issues will be organised on the 10th December, 2009.

Youth from various voluntary organisations, students from colleges, universities; NGOs and esteemed intellectuals from relevant fields are expected to be a part of this campaign. Each individual who is alive to his rights and obligations, shall be a part of the same, As a part of this campaign, the feedback of the youth, through various mediums, shall be collected for further consideration, on various issues like education, health and nutrition, livelihood training and entrepreneurship, violence, gender, social security, citizenship and participation, identity and equality, social justice, sports.

In this direction, the official launch of the campaign to gather support from the youth on the youth policy, was was carried out on 13th November, 2009, in the form of a press conference, where all partner organizations and media personnel were present to mark the event.

Following is the link to the glimpse of the same event, please see here

It is expected of you all to be a part of this campaign, which is by the youth, for the youth, thereby supporting us in taking this voice forward to the government, and providing it the appropriate pace and direction to be able to make a difference to the society.

For Photographs please see link

For further details, see www.sahayogindia.org

and orkut community, see here

District Level Dialogue on International Youth Day 12th August

Youth for Change celebrated International Youth Day (12th of August) while having district level dialogues in 9 districts of Uttar Pradesh. Different stakeholders including teachers, health service providers, elected representatives, parents, media, block level officials attended the event. Finding of a need assessment study on Youth Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights was shared. This study was done with 1003 youth and other stakeholders. Present stakeholders were agreed on the findings and said youth really need health services. Apart from the sharing of findings of the study, youth also performed street plays, puppet shows and songs on different issues. In one-two districts youth also took out rally. The whole dialogue was anchored by youth. A demand letter was faxed to Hon’ble Chief Minister for asking a Youth Policy in Uttar Pradesh.

A Study Sharing of YSRHR on World Population Day

On occasion of World Population Day finding of need assessment study on Youth sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights was shared with media and other state level stakeholders. According to the study findings, during puberty only 3.23% of females between of 19 to 24 years of age.

Qualitative study showed that every stakeholder including teacher, health service providers and parents said youth need both information and services. Health service providers said schools are the appropriate place to provide information while teachers think they are not in a position to provide detailed information, they think hospitals are the proper place, Parents also think that school should take responsibility of giving sexuality education.

For photographs click here

Youth Leader Exposure Visit

To promote youth leadership an exposure visit was organized from 23rd -26th June, 09. Total 44 youth visited two organisation based in Uttarakhand State named VIMARSH and SUCHETNA. VIMARSH is based in Nainital District, works for gender issue in the community and schools, while forming Gender Cells in schools. SUCHETNA works in two States Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand while running 15 such centres for youth development. Youth visited in a few villages of their working areas and had group discussions with youth of different districts. Youth share about their problems and also initiatives which they took to deal with their problems. Youth had the opportunity to analyse different situation in two states. Youth were very impressed to see girls mobility and leadership in Uttarakhand, they felt in Uttar Pradesh girls don't have mobility and right to decide specially about right to choice, even it is also not that easy for boys in Uttar Pradesh.

To see more photographs Youth Leader Exposure visit 23-26 June 09">click here

Uttar Pradesh State Level Dialogue

World Health Day: Youth Sexual & Reproductive Health and Rights

For demanding Youth Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights a state level dialogue was organised on 6th April on the eve of World Health day. Representatives from different youth related departments i.e. Education Directorate, Health Directorate, Acadmicians from different educatinal Institutions, District Institute of Education and Training (DIET), Nehru Yuwa Kendra, State and National Level issue experts and media gathered together to discuss the youth situation and the need for their Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rigths in Uttar Pradesh. Leadership youth from 10 districts shared their experience and damanded immediated action for three main issues such as for stopping underage marriages, providing sexuality education in school curriculum, and availabilty of Sexual and reproductive health services including counselling at Public Health Centres. Youth said "They need Sex education as it is the topic which they are not permitted to discuss with parents or others in the society, and their friends have the same knowledge therefore it is very important to think about youth, which is at present a large population. Experts realised and supported youth demands and said as there are around 6.6. million youth aged 15 to 24 years in Uttar Pradesh, so that it is important from a development perspective, so the government should think and take immediate action for the needful.

District Level Dialogue on 12th January 2009

On 12th of January 2009, on the occasion of Swami Vivekananda's Birthday youth had celebrated district level dialogue at 10 district of Utter Pradesh with 11 NGO partners. Objective of the district level dialogue was to generate a demand by 1500 youth related to their Sexual and Reproductive Health and Right issues. Youth had given a demand letter to Chief minister of Utter Pradesh and they were demanding on the three major issue which they are facing in their society,the first one was the Prohibition of early marriage because the status of U.P. is very poor and youth are living in very miserable condition because 50 percent of the girls aged 19-24 get married in the early age. And also the ratio of boys is also very critical. The second demand was for the availability of resources and information related to youth SRHR at every Primary Health Center. And the third one which was a burning issue for our government for provision of sexuality education for youth. Different type of stake holders like parents, Chief medical officers and political leader, Anganbadi worker, ANM, ASHA, teachers participated in District level dialogue. Youth presented their issues presentation of Puppet shows, film theater, songs, speachs and many others.

For pictures releted to District Dialogue Download from here

Five Day Regional Workshop

Five Day Regional Workshop:
In Youth for Change programme, we have had five day regional workshop with 110 youth leaders. from each district 2 facilitator attended this workshop.
1. Strengthen understanding of SRHR and gender issues
2. Develop stronger capacities for Leadership and Organization building
3. Develop action plans for advocacy on youth SRHR with stakeholders using communications materials and messages.
Youth have been participated with full zeal and energy. We had done different type of activities like session on reproductive health and lots of game which focoused on Gender and role of gender, power game and enrziger and youth also visited a historical place Bada Imambada( A place which made by Mugal Emperor in 1700). In this workshop a youth booklet had been inograted by few government officials and NGO members the name of the booklet is "Yuva Tarang", which is basicaly made for facilitator to work with youth and also create a issue and awarness for youth groups. And the on going impact will be youth will aware about their iussues and they will generate demand and will be create a collaborative voice for policy making in coming year.