The Revolution Youth Union of the Syrian Arab Republic is the focus of a UNFPA-supported project to educate young people about reproductive health and family planning, sexual health (including AIDS and STDs) and family well-being.

"Population issues are a priority for us," says Khaled Najati, member of the Leadership Bureau of the Youth Union and National Project Director. "Our 1.2 million members are the largest group of young people aged 12 to 35 in the country. Unlike the country’s schools, our 3,000 centres are mixed, with 59 per cent girls." The Union has 125 "population awareness days" every year.

"UNFPA assistance was absolutely essential for the success of this comprehensive programme," Najati acknowledges, "and Mr. AbuNuwar was a great help in moving it along and getting UNFPA funding."

The next stage of the programme will add to each youth centre a population library in Arabic, a video unit, and counselling services adapted to young people’s reproductive health needs and concerns.

Another important effort is a new campaign to eliminate illiteracy completely by the year 2001. "Despite great advances, 30 per cent of women in this country still cannot read or write, compared with less than 20 per cent of men," says Ghada Al-Jabi, director of the programme. "We still have a tough job ahead."

The new programme is supported by UNFPA and UNESCO, working with the Ministry of Culture. It targets remaining pockets of illiteracy and goes beyond previous campaigns by enlisting public and private institutions to help. Military recruits must now be able to read and write by the time they finish their service. Religious leaders have donated space for literacy classes. Elementary school teachers teach literacy classes on their free days.

"We began cooperating with UNFPA in 1988,"says Ms. Al-Jabi, "but now we are moving into another phase. We are fitting population issues into our literacy curricula by adding educational materials and study guides on reproductive health and family planning, sexually transmitted diseases, the many advantages of small families, increasing the age of first marriage, and promoting breast-feeding, to name a few."

This has a dual effect. "Most illiterate women are in remote rural areas, which are also missed by health services. By introducing population into the study materials of our literacy programme, we are finally reaching these pockets of underdevelopment."

The combination of literacy and reproductive health releases women’s potential. "Educated women can contribute to the development of their communities and the country as a whole," says Al-Jabi.

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