CASE STUDIES: Community Support

Parents Go Back to School in Ecuador

In Ecuador, a reproductive health project with the armed forces targeted children of military personnel. The educational component of the project included a participatory approach to discussions of gender equality, sexuality, love and other reproductive health topics. The project also introduced a popular parent education programme (‘school for parents’) which dealt with topics including self-esteem, psychological and biological changes during adolescence, and conflict resolution.

Technical Training Offered to Young People in Benin

Some 300 adolescents and young people, aged 15-24, are being trained in communications at the Multi-Media Centre in Cotonou, Benin with UNFPA support. They are receiving comprehensive professional training in all aspects of radio and TV broadcasting and production, computer graphics, web site design and development, photography, videography, and magazine and newspaper writing and production. It is the only centre of its kind in French West Africa.

Kidavri Network Provides Broad Mix of Services to Young People in India

In India, seven diverse NGOs serving adolescents have organized into a network of mutual support. With help from community contributions, international NGOs and foundations, bilateral aid agencies and United Nations programmes including UNFPA, the network issues a newsletter, holds periodic strategy meetings and facilitates the exchange of knowledge and skills.

Members of the Kidavri network are a mix of religious, social action, social research and humanitarian organizations, including Don Bosco Ashalayam (rehabilitating street children), the Bahai’i community (promoting communal harmony, self-empowerment and personality development), Swaasthya (serving a large resettlement colony), the Society for Promotion of Youth and Masses (implementing programmes for the underprivileged and marginalized, particularly adolescents), Prerana (providing skills training and social empowerment) and Action India (promoting women’s empowerment and community development). Network members share experiences, work on common issues and promote youth participation in decision-making.

Swaasthya is succeeding in wedding rigorous social science research with participatory community action. Research has included baseline surveys of community conditions and knowledge, and qualitative research (interviews and focus groups). Community members assist in getting information about health to neighbours. Shopkeepers distribute subsidized condoms to people who request them. Young people have made entertaining and informative films that have aired on local cable television.

Part of an international network of shelters, Don Bosco Ashalayam provides refuge and comfort to former street children who have been abandoned or driven from their homes. Boys and girls are housed separately. They are taught reading, arithmetic and crafts and take responsibility for cooking, laundry, cleaning and building maintenance. The regular routine provides structure to lives disrupted by the chaos of the streets. Older youths continue schooling outside. There is also a phone help line providing street youths with information, counselling and referrals to other services.