YOUTH CAMPAIGNING IN “10 DAYS OF ACTIVISM
10 Days of Activism (DoA), a global campaign that focused on raising awareness among young people and society on the issue of young people’s Sexual and Reproductive Health and rights (SRHR) and needs was successfully organized in Nepal by Y-PEER Nepal along with more than 45 countries.Y-PEER, a youth to youth initiative, is a global network that has been working on the issue of young people's SRHR since last 10 years is an initiation of UNFPA, UNAIDS, FHI, Youth Net and other organizations .
The 10 DoA campaign was a collaborative effort with different other organizations including; Family Planning Association of Nepal, Parichaya Samaj, SOLID Nepal, SAC Nepal, Youth information centers at Bhaktapur and
Rupendehi, GAA, YES Nepal, Rotaract mid-town, Nepal Family Development Foundation, United Hands for Social Development and Amnesty International Bhaktapur youth network and had coverage in many parts of the country.
The entire activities were basically targeted to young girls and boys and the campaign is an effort to advocate among the policy makers. Activities carried out mostly by young people in partnership with adults with the
emphasis to the concept of Edu-tainment (Education and Entertainment) to make it more youth-friendly, which included street drama, documentary show, workshops, interaction and orientations related to SRHR issue of young people, Human rights, Sexual and gender minorities and Drug abuse.
Y-PEER Kathmandu in coordination in other organization screened a documentary ‘*Outside the news room’ *followed by an interaction program related to traditional abortion practices in the far-west Nepal and vulnerable sexual and reproductive health of young people, in the group of more than 95 young people. An *orientation on HIV and AIDS conducted among young drug users* had participation of altogether 48 young people boys from
the locality which was organized by Rupendehi Youth information forum at Butwal. In another interesting program by Bhaktapur youth information center, there was *parents-youth interaction* about the physical and mental changes in young people, parents expressed their experience and discussion was made how they could help their young children. Young girls of Bhaktapur also had an outreach work with 24 young carpet factory women about *menstrual hygiene and alternative sanitary napkins*. NFDF had *interaction with rural
youth *about their SRH needs and problems in the district of Sindupalchowk.
Parichaya Samaj, a non-governmental organization working on the issue of gender and sexual minorities, showed a *street drama* to advocate on their working area. A group of young people affiliated to Amnesty International Bhaktapur youth network, conducted an *orientation on Universal Declaration on Human Rights *with the use of videos and discussion. SOLID Nepal, working in the SRH issue conducted a five-days *training on Peer education *to young peer educators so that, they can reach their friends in their community for
awareness on sexual and reproductive health and rights. There was few more similar program facilitated by young people in some other parts of the country as well.
The campaign has proven to be one of the highlight for this International year of Youth (IYY), not just in Nepal but globally. This campaign in the context of Nepal is also an example of collaborative effort of many hands
for a single cause. With the closing of the campaign, there has been a shared notion that, still there are lots of works to be done for betterment of SRH of young people. Therefore, more heart, head and hand are to be
mobilized in a collaborative and partnership approach to reach the goal of improving health of young people and make them able to access the health services.
For detail information about the global campaign you can visit
www.youthpeer.org and www.10daysofactivism.com
