YouthNet and CARE hosted a technical consultation on community involvement in youth reproductive health (RH) and HIV prevention from November 8 - 9, 2005. The three-day meeting examined the available evidence on community involvement in youth RH and HIV prevention, and presented promising programs and strategies.
Youth, by definition, are difficult to separate from the larger community in which they live. Parents, families, neighbors, schools, and religious and other community institutions all play significant roles in shaping young people's sexual and reproductive health attitudes and behaviors.
In most societies, reaching youth directly requires involving and gaining the support of those involved in their protection and social development. Involving communities in youth reproductive health and HIV prevention (RH/HIV) increases the potential to reach youth in numerous ways (as individuals, families, community members). Involving communities also increases the potential to reach youth who are not in school or who are otherwise more at risk (for example, orphans and vulnerable children).
The following YouthNet publications highlight community involvement as a means to promoting youth reproductive health and HIV prevention:
- YouthNet Brief No. 8. Participatory Learning and Action: A Powerful Approach with Youth. (PDF 96KB) Participatory approaches led by youth can enhance youth and community involvement, as shown through YouthNet projects in Ethiopia, Namibia, and Tanzania.
- YouthLens No. 6. Participatory Learning and Action. (PDF, 63K) The Ethiopian Ministry of Youth, Sports, and Culture used a youth-based participatory process to develop an HIV/AIDS and sexual health component in its new program, resulting in a mobilized coalition of young people committed to the health and future of their country.
- Community Involvement Resources
The community involvement resources consist of four documents produced in partnership with CARE. They offer guidance for conducting participatory assessments, an annotated guide to technical resources, a report of a technical consultation on community involvement, and a literature review.
The following publications also emphasize community involvement:
YouthNet and FHI/IMPACT provided technical assistance to youth in Ethiopia by conducting a participatory and learning (PLA) assessment of HIV prevention, care, and support services, which involved communities and assisted these youth in developing a Youth Charter and a three-year Action Plan on how to improve services for them. Read Going to Scale in Ethiopia: Mobilizing Youth Participation in a National HIV/AIDS Program.
YouthNet's Program in Namibia offers a strong community component, particularly in working with younger youth and churches. A PLA project in Nambia helped to design the program and identify gaps in services.
In Tanzania, YouthNet used PLA techniques to conduct community based research and to design interventions working with Muslim and Christian community organizations. Through workshops, youth and adults were trained to conduct rapid, qualitative assessments on issues relating to RH and HIV/AIDS in their communities.
Community involvement is a key component of YouthNet research on peer education being conducted in Zambia. This two-phase, community-based, youth peer education study with local communities and stakeholders examines how to make community-based peer education programs more effective.
