EC / UNFPA

Reproductive Health Initiative for Youth in Asia:

Background

In Cambodia, the UNFPA/EC Reproductive Health Initiative for Youth in Asia (RHIYA) works to address the sexual reproductive health needs and reproductive rights of young Cambodians aged 10–24, through partnerships with over 20 non-governmental organisations (NGOs) including IOs, local NGOs and Youth Organisations.

The RHIYA programme supports participatory and innovative approaches to Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health. Current projects target vulnerable young people including migrant workers , street children, sex workers, and young people living in slums and in poor rural communities and activities include youth-friendly reproductive health services, youth centers, peer education networks, outreach van activities, special events, interactive radio shows and national campaigns to provide essential reproductive health information and services for youth.

YOUTH FOR YOUTH: PEER EDUCATION

"I REALLY WANTED to learn about reproductive health for myself as well as to be able to help my friends and other young people", says Sophea a 19-year-old high Phnom Penh school student and peer educator with the local NGO RHAC (Reproductive Health Association of Cambodia).

Sophea found her work was difficult at first. Some of her peers felt very shy, but later more and more young people began coming to her for information. Sophea was also able to refer her friends to RHAC's clinical services. "They are shy, but I encourage them and most of them are then confident to talk to the staff".

RHAC has 7 clinics around Cambodia, funded by both UNFPA/EC and USAIDa. Each month the clinics see over 2,000 young clients for STDs, family planning and counseling. Each has a youth centre where young people can get to know the facilities, access health information and condoms and take part in health education games and karaoke. RHAC is also running pilot health activities in 2 rural health centers in Takeo and Kampong Cham provinces. In these locations, RHAC is training and supporting government health center staff to deliver youth friendly reproductive health services and information.

Listeners are encouraged to write and call in th the show with their questions, problems and reactions On-air counseling is also provided by the presenting team.

A popular segment of the show is the soap opera, "Lotus on a Muddy Lake", which has reached its 408th episode. The show reflects the real lives and issues facing young people in Cambodia today, and has attracted a loyal following among listeners. When a particular issue is covered in the storyline, on-air discussion and counseling on the same subject is linked to the problems facing the characters.

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INVOLVING MONKS IN REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH

MONKS MIGHT SEEM unlikely allies in the fight against HIV/AIDS, with its emphasis on talking frankly about sexual behaviour. But experience in Cambodia shows that working with Buddhist monks can be a very effective supplement to working directly with young people.

Under UNFPA/EC support, Save the Children Australia, its local partner organizations and Operation Enfants du Battambang (OEB), choose to work with monks because of their influence in local communities. After being trained, monks transfer knowledge during ceremonies and during visits to people's homes. At these events, monks take the opportunity to talk about HIV/AIDS and people respect their knowledge. Monks are also encouraged to provide practical and psychological support to people with AIDS.  This is particularly helpful in dispelling the discrimination and fear that often surround the disease.

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SEX EDUCATION THROUGH MEDIA ACTIVITIES AND SOAP OPERA

Radio is widely accessible to young people in Cambodia, and Health Unlimited and its local partner CHEMS broadcast an interactive radio show bringing reproductive health information to young people three times a week.

Listeners are encouraged to write and call in to the show with their questions, problems and reactions. On-air counseling is also provided by the presenting team.

A popular segment of the show is the soap opera, "Lotus on a Muddy Lake ", which has reached its 408th episode. The show reflects the real lives and issues facing young people in Cambodia today, and has attracted a loyal following among listeners. When a particular issue is covered in the storyline, on-air discussion and counseling on the same subject is linked to the problems facing the characters.

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THE CAMBODIA YOUTH CAMP

"THE YOUTH CAMP is an opportunity to learn about sexual and reproductive health. When they are away from their family and community it is easy for young people to talk openly together. It is not like learning in school, the camp provides a forum for young people to be with their peers and it is fun", explains Choub Chamreun, a Programme Officer at KHANA (Khmer HIV/AIDS Network) and one of the organizers of the Cambodia Youth Camp.

Youth Camp have been a very successfu initiative and have been organized on an annual basis since 2001. In 2005, 268 young people attended, including 8 young people from Lao PDR. All the partner organizations came together, under the leadership of KHANA, to plan and carry out the event with funding from EC/UNFPA.

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Partner Links:

• ICHA web at http://www.moeys.gov.kh/en/education/icha/index.htm
• KYA Cambodia http://www.kya-cambodia.org
• CHEMS at http://www.healthunlimited.org/cambodia/chems.htm
• KHANA at http://www.khana.org.kh/OurSupporters.html