Importance of youth participation in developing youth solutions |
At Dasra, through our engagements with 5M young people and over 250 youth-serving organisations we have found that working with young people can help identify the right challenges, and build relevant, desirable, agile and effective solutions.
Efforts to develop and strengthen youth programs can be significantly more effective if they are centered around the choices and motivations of young people and include young people in creating solutions that impact them. For example we have learned that young people are not very comfortable talking about sexual and reproductive health with adults (parents and/or field workers). Hence including young people to peer educate and lead programs not only hands over power but also enhances the comfort of youth participants that are part of the program. |
We are using a new transformative approach to identify and strengthen one component that has the potential to enhance the whole solution. We call it the Catalytic Component Approach3 core principles of this approach
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We are demonstrating this methodology with the RKSK scheme in Jharkhand.We are developing innovations in the Adolescent Health and Wellness Day (AHWD) component of the National Health Program (RKSK) in partnership with National Health Mission, Jharkhand & a set of NGOs and young people.
These are events that bring together adolescents, frontline workers and community members to provide health related services and information through sessions, workshops and counselling. We are testing the innovations to AHWDs in Dumka & Simdega districts. We have collaborated with an amazing group of young people from the communities and the following implementation partners to bring this to life — CINI & Quest Alliance. |
Our Phase 1 Report is now availableGet a quick overview of everything we have managed to collaboratively achieve and learn from the work done in the field between May-Nov '22.
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As of November 2022, we have completed 65 AHWD events that reached 4,850 adolescents in Dumka and 2,425 in Simdega districts. The event included informative sessions, fun activities, sharing spaces, and health check-ups. |
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We are redesigning how AHWDs are conducted. We will build a standardised agenda of what should be covered during these sessions - from conducting screenings, to facilitation material about the topics to be discussed, to the games being played! This will support Peer educators and Frontline workers to conduct sessions with ease, even when it comes to discussing sensitive topics.
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"By being in front of others and doing this, I realised that I can do this and going ahead I can do even more. I hope many others get this opportunity and that the program reaches so many more places where RKSK doesn’t yet exist."
Nisa Kumari Peer Educator, Simdega |
“Through this program we are hearing young people’s voices. They would not speak openly before but the questions they are being asked and the activities they are now doing is making them comfortable and increasing their confidence in speaking up. I am very happy to see that.”
Subani Bhengra BTT Worker, Dumka |
An increase in number of adolescents that are satisfied with services at the AHWD
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More adolescents accessing services at the AHWDs
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Higher awareness amongst adolescents on the topic of health and well-being
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An increase in participation of adolescents within community level forums, meetings, leading sessions, etc.
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An increase in leadership abilities of adolescent peer educators
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