News & Events
UNFPA-supported Y-PEER Network Helps Young People Learn about Adolescent and Reproductive Health Issues
1 December 2010
«This is my first year with Y-PEER Network, — says MokhigulJuraeva fr om Samarkand, — It is amazing how the network helps us get to know each other better, learn from each other’s experiences, brainstorm and come up with new fantastic ideas»
Mokhigul is relatively new to Y-PEER, but, in her 20, has already delivered a number of training sessions on HIV/AIDS prevention, healthy lifestyle and reproductive health to her peers in Samarkand and the regions.
UNFPA-supported Y-PEER or Youth Peer Education Network promotes participation of youth in adolescent and reproductive health issues. Globally, Y-PEER represents a network of more than 500 non-profit organizations and governmental institutions, and its membership includes thousands of young people who work in the many areas surrounding adolescent sexual and reproductive health.
The network kicked off in Uzbekistan in 2005, and currently brings together more than 350 volunteers nationwide. Working with youth and for youth, the network aims to promote a healthy life style through peer to peer approach and to empower young people to make responsible decisions.
Since it was established in Uzbekistan five years ago, the network continues to grow, carrying away more and more young people with ideas of voluntarism and peer-to-peer education. In all, Y-PEER activists reach out to estimated number of 5,000 young people each year with information sessions on issues related to healthy lifestyle.
The initiative is unique in its approach of peer-to-peer education, which is seen as complement to formal education on healthy lifestyle and family issues. In addition to training on substantive issues, Y-PEER contributes to raising young people’s competencies in fields like project development and management, advocacy, youth-adult partnership, and working with vulnerable groups.
«We are happy to see that Y-PEER is so popular and active in the country, says Karl Kulessa, UNFPA Representative in Uzbekistan, — The network is vital in reaching out to young people, who comprise close to 65% of population in this country. We note that scope of activities organized by Y-PEER members have changed, and now it’s not lim ited to educational sessions in schools and outreach activities, but independently organized training of trainers in regions, and awareness campaigns. This illustrates how Y-PEER network has evolved in last years as one of the leading youth movements in the country»
UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund, is an international development agency that promotes the right of every woman, man and child to enjoy a life of health and equal opportunity. UNFPA supports countries in using population data for policies and programmes to reduce poverty and to ensure that every pregnancy is wanted, every birth is safe, every young person is free of HIV/AIDS, and every girl and woman is treated with dignity and respect. UNFPA has been functioning in Uzbekistan since 1993 and is now implementing its third Country Programme (2010-2015) in close cooperation with national partners.
