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Breaking Generations of Silence

Breaking Generations of Silence. Shabab TAHSEEN: Innovations in BCC led by youth. TAHSEEN Project APHA Annual Meeting and Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA. The TAHSEEN Project.

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Breaking Generations of Silence

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  1. Breaking Generations of Silence Shabab TAHSEEN:Innovations in BCC led by youth TAHSEEN ProjectAPHA Annual Meeting and Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

  2. The TAHSEEN Project The TAHSEEN Project is the last USAID-funded family planning and reproductive health project in Egypt. Objectives • USAID: Help Egypt’s MOHP reach its long-term goals of higher contraceptive use and replacement level fertility • TAHSEEN: Build on past successes; fill remaining gaps; leave behind a sustainable FP/RH program

  3. We Believe in a Participatory Approach to Development… • Transparency • Shared vision with our partners • Putting the community first • Responding to local needs • Working at all levels of society • Working with non-traditional partners • Empowering individuals

  4. TAHSEEN Integrated FP/RH Model

  5. The Need for Youth-focused Programs TAHSEEN study revealed • Lack of knowledge of sexual and reproductive health • Lack of communication between adults and young people • Young newly-weds not aware of the importance of marital sexual and reproductive health knowledge

  6. Aim • Attract, educate and mobilize young people on sexual and reproductive health • Encourage them to share knowledge with peers, parents and community leaders as multipliers of information about reproductive health and family planning • Develop youth champions • Link the community to the newly-renovated clinic

  7. TAHSEEN’s Youth-centered Activities • Tools for youth • National youth health hotline • Companion FP/RH website for youth • University peer-to-peer education program • Shabab TAHSEEN week in local communities

  8. Youth-focused tools • Question and answer booklets for youth • Series of booklets on • Puberty for boys • Puberty for girls • Hygiene • Nutrition • How pregnancy occurs • Family health • Sexually transmitted diseases

  9. Youth Hotline and Website • Efficient way to counsel and inform in a personalized manner • Provide accurate FP/RH information • Widely accessible • Popular with parents & their children • Associated website – www.shababna.org

  10. 28,338 hits 10,502calls

  11. Youth Peer-to-peer Program • Working with local universities to establish FP/RH educator groups • Students trained to share accurate FP/RH information with their classmates • First of its kind in Egypt

  12. Shabab TAHSEEN Week Six-day behavior change communication program aimed at young people aged 14 – 18 Activities include: • Core: • Health education sessions (Puberty changes, proper nutrition, smoking and addiction, age of marriage & OBSI and FGC ) • Support: • Community services (School beautification and tree planting, volunteerism) • Sports

  13. Shabab TAHSEEN Week • Increase reproductive and sexual health knowledge of participants • Mobilize youth through behavior change communication • Improve communication between youth and their parents/elders • Minimize the gap between the community and the newly-renovated clinic

  14. Involving Youth and Their Parents • 1,944 Shabab TAHSEEN Week participants • 48 concurrent seminars held for 2,190 parents

  15. Improvements in Youths knowledge of RH topics 100 90 80 70 60 Pre - test % 50 Post - test 40 30 20 10 0 OBSI Appropriate age Harmful effects Changes during of first of female puberty pregnancy circumcision (N=1672) Evidence of Success

  16. Informing Family Members “My older sister told me that she didn’t know about birth spacing before, but now she does and she wants to practice it.” (14 year-old female Shabab TAHSEEN Week participant)

  17. Educating Peers “Ninety-five percent of our information was wrong. Because of our customs and traditions we were embarrassed to talk, but I have learned to break the wall of shyness. Now I know that these are not things that contradict our religion… TAHSEEN will deliver a message through the generations.” (17 year old, female peer educator )

  18. “I convinced my mother and father not to carry out the FGC operation on my younger sister. It was very difficult but I succeeded in changing their minds.” Educating Peers (19 year old peer educator from Minia University)

  19. Spreading Health Messages “When I told my father about what I learnt during the STW, he decided to help me spread the messages. We planted trees in the area in front of our building and were joined by my friends. During the work we told them about all the messages.” (13 year-old Shabab TAHSEEN Week participant)

  20. Breaking with Tradition “I stood up to my father when he wanted to circumcise me. I also stood up to the woman who promotes circumcision... I will not stop spreading the messages. What I do not accept for myself I should not accept for others. I believe that is true volunteerism.” (15 year-old Shabab TAHSEEN Week participant)

  21. Community Support In Minia Governorate, the local council officially named a street Shabab TAHSEEN Street, reflecting the community's acceptance and support for the youth program.

  22. Replication and Sustainability • National institutions (NCCM) & NGOs are taking a lead role in organizing Shabab TAHSEEN activities under their own initiative • Government officials and local youth committees are initiating their own Shabab TAHSEEN Weeks

  23. Breaking Generations of Silence • By informing youth and using them as advocates of change, it has indeed been possible for TAHSEEN to break generations of silence. • This will ensure that youth have greater access to information and services and are more empowered to make informed choices to ensure their health, and the health of their future families.

  24. There is a time to let things happen and a time to make things happen……

  25. Thank You

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