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Empowering Young People to Make Healthy Choices
Promoting Reproductive Health among Adolescents through the Network of the Lao Youth Union (LAO/02/P03)
The Context
Some 40 percent of the Lao population is aged 10 to 29. As social and economic changes increasingly impact their behaviour, Lao adolescents, especially young women are becoming more exposed to health risks, including STI/HIV infections, unwanted pregnancies and unsafe abortions. Unmarried and married youth are equally affected by these changes.
However, while the need for information and services for youth regarding sexual and reproductive health is increasing, access is very limited, especially among young people in rural areas where they have lower education levels and face numerous health risks. It is important to ensure better access in order to reduce poverty, balance population growth with socio-economic development, and improve the reproductive health status of Lao people.
The Project
Through the network of the Lao Youth Union (LYU), the project aims to increase the knowledge and awareness of reproductive health and rights among adolescents and youth by providing them with adolescent RH information including related gender capacity issues. It also has an objective to strengthen the capacity of LYU in implementing community-based RH awareness interventions. The main focus of the interventions is on developing quality peer education activities in Savannakhet and Champassack as an effective way to reach both urban and rural – and literate and illiterate –youth. The peer education activities use a range of IEC materials appropriate for young people on issues such as biology, family planning, prevention of STIs/HIV, changes in puberty and life skills. The project also supports part of community outreach activities implemented by LYU together with Health Unlimited under the Reproductive Health Initiative for Youth in Asia (RHIYA) in Saravan, Sekong and Attapeu.
In order to raise awareness about ARH issues among policy makers, decision-makers and other senior authorities at the central and local levels, the project produces videos and conducts advocacy campaigns in all five provinces. It also broadcasts youth-friendly RH radio programmes in the South.Update on Achievements
• The capacity of LYU in project management has increased and its knowledge of ARH has been upgraded through training materials development and advocacy campaigns.
• Knowledge and training skills of central, provincial and district trainers on ARH has grown through Training of Trainers.
• Teaching materials suitable for peer education activities have been developed for trainers at all levels.
• Support for better ARH services and information has increased among local authorities in target provinces and districts through advocacy meetings.
• Accurate information on ARH has been disseminated through media (newspapers, radio and TV) using materials developed by the project such as a video drama.
• Baseline data on the knowledge and behaviour of young people has been collected and analysed.
Official Facts
Site: Central LYU in Vientiane ; 3 districts in each province of Savannakhet and Champassak; 2 districts in each province of Saravan , Sekong and Attapeu
Duration: 2002-2006
Implementing Agency: Lao Youth Union (with JOICFP for videos)
Financial Facts
UNFPA: US$ 255,000
Government: US$ 25,000
Total Budget: US$ 280,000
