1 Topic : - “HIV/AIDS and THE YOUTH :Stop AIDS- Keep the Promise” Presenter :- Youth Action for Development Association (YADA) Addis Ababa, Ethiopia By Ephrem Tekle Nov Nov * VIDEO CONFERENCE

2 Contents 1.Activities of Young People in the fight against HIV/AIDS. 2.Role of government, donors and other institutions 3.YADA’s achievement and next programs

3 1. Activities of Young People in the fight against HIV/AIDS. Current StatusCurrent Status –Around 3037 active Anti-AIDS club, Youth Organizations, Initiatives and associations in the country (FHI/Ethiopian Youth Network/2002). –Working area (some) Awareness creationAwareness creation AdvocacyAdvocacy Social care and supportSocial care and support Voluntary Counseling and TestingVoluntary Counseling and Testing

4 Activities (some)Activities (some) –Information delivery –Researches and studies –Networking programs –Community based discussion forums –Peer educations –Street shows –Coffee ceremonies

5 ChallengesChallenges –Weak and low youth participation and representation –Less conducive environment –Weak system and implementation of plans –Lack of capacity –Lack of information –Weak networking and integrative activities –Lack of trust by the government and society on the youth.

6 Role of governmentRole of government –Creating conducive system –Implementing policies and strategies –Opening the gate for the young people. Role of DonorsRole of Donors –Open house –Information desks –Informing their activities –Having direct funds (grants, small funds…)--- WB,UNICEF… –Supporting youth initiatives ( technical, financial) 2.Role of government and donors

7 3. Youth Action for Development Association (YADA) IntroductionIntroduction –Establishment Previously named Youth Advisory Group (YAG).. WBPreviously named Youth Advisory Group (YAG).. WB Established in august 2003 with 22 young people from four regions and the capital.Established in august 2003 with 22 young people from four regions and the capital. Supported by World Bank (during establishment)Supported by World Bank (during establishment) – Mission To serve young people in providing reliable and timely information to enable them to be mobilized.To serve young people in providing reliable and timely information to enable them to be mobilized. –Vision To see well informed and mobilized youth working for the development of their country.To see well informed and mobilized youth working for the development of their country.

8 AchievementAchievement 1. Assessment on youth participation and representation. coverage area : Addis Ababa and other Four regions Findings : - weak and low youth participation in their issues - lack of capacity and information - lack of capacity and information - Intense bureaucratic barriers in governmental offices - Intense bureaucratic barriers in governmental offices 2. Dialogue among NGOs, Youth organizations, donors and government officials.

9 3. Youth Based Information Providing project - Aim :- to solve the problems identified in the previous assessment. - Donor : - World Bank and SIDA. - Donor : - World Bank and SIDA. - Components a. Publication of Guide book and Bulletin Guidebook:- - List of Funders in Ethiopia - note on project designing - List of recreation centers - Experience sharing - List of VCT centers. Bulletin : - - learning material. - national writing contest.

10 -Distribution: -books distributed in the 11 regions of Ethiopia b. Establishment of HIV/AIDS corners in 25 high schools in the capital and 5 in other regions. - distribution of learning materials on Adolescent reproductive health. c. Youth to Youth Dialogues c. Youth to Youth Dialogues - Focus: information, participation, development... - Regions :- 5 regions - Aim : - creating plat form for discussion - enable the youth to solve their problems - creating the interface among the youth. - discussion with government officials.

11 Next Programs : Integrated Youth Mobilization and Empowerment Project (IYMEP)Next Programs : Integrated Youth Mobilization and Empowerment Project (IYMEP) –Aim : - to mobilize and empower the youth to stand against its problems –Means : - information delivery using different ways of communication –Components :- 1.Electronic media:- A.TV program : entertaining and educating programs B.Website : - database of Youth organizations, funders and related organizations - Timely activities of these registered organizations. C. Radio program

12 2. Print media (Guidebook, bulletin and leaflet ) - writings of young artist - latest directories - short messages. 3. Folk media - Community conversation - Peer discussion - village based dialogues

13 Remark To implement the plans, the association needsTo implement the plans, the association needs Financial AssistanceFinancial Assistance Technical assistanceTechnical assistance Experience sharingExperience sharing

14 YADA’s Believe Information  Initiation  Mobilization Information  Initiation  Mobilization EMPOWERMENT

15 THANK YOU.