JAPAN TRUST FUND MONGOLIA Y O U T H
H A V E
R I G H T S
T O
I N F O R M A T I O N
Population (2001): PROJECT TITLE: HIV/AIDS education for dormitory university students in Ulaanbaatar
2.5 million
IMPLEMENTING BODY: Mongolian Family Welfare Association (MFWA)
Urban population (2000):
AIM: To provide accurate information on STI/HIV/AIDS prevention and to increase condom use
65%
Main language/s: Mongolian
Mongolia has only a handful of reported HIV infections to date, but this is no reason for complacency. HIV/AIDS awareness is critically low. Access to sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services has not been easy for young people. To help them access accurate SRH information and relevant services, a project geared to reaching students in their dormitories was developed.
Main religion/s: Lamaist Buddhism
Literacy level (1997): 99%
2002 was 'Student Year' in Mongolia which meant greater government recognition and appreciation of youth-focused projects.
Life expectancy (1995–2000):
This was also the year chosen by the Mongolian Family Welfare Association (MFWA) to make university students the focus of its HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention drive.
Infant mortality (1995–2000):
ADOPTING AN HOLISTIC APPROACH
GNI per capita (1999):
62 years
66 per 1,000 live births
US$390
Across university dormitories in the country's capital Ulaanbaatar, interactive training sessions included lively discussion, role-playing and video showings. Topics covered included family planning and unwanted pregnancy, alcohol abuse, family violence, safe sex and STI/HIV/AIDS transmission and prevention.
Adult HIV prevalence (end 2001): <0.1%
Students' understanding was measured before and after the one-day workshops. Student
knowledge at the Mongolian State University improved by an average of 24% because of the project.
Youth were encouraged to
NETWORKING THE MESSAGE
access SRH
To help spread the message, the cooperation of tutors and social workers attached to dormitories was secured. Social workers used materials from the project at other educational institutions and developed a good network. Peer educators passed
services, which in
information on to more than 2,500 young people across the city and elsewhere. Workshops were attended by 140 students and another 40 participants were selected from elsewhere. Young factory workers and unemployed youth aged 16–25 joined the students. Teachers and social workers were trained as leaders with the help of the Youth Development Centre of Ulaanbaatar.
turn helped service providers to develop a more youth-friendly approach.
THE INTERNATIONAL PLANNED PARENTHOOD FEDERATION (IPPF) is a global network of Member Associations in 148 countries and the world's foremost voluntary, non-governmental provider and advocate of sexual and reproductive health and rights. IPPF envisages a world in which every woman, man and young person has access to the information and services they need; in which sexuality is recognized both as a natural and precious aspect of life and as a fundamental human right; a world in which choices are fully respected and where stigma and discrimination have no place. 1
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PROMOTING YOUTH-FRIENDLY SERVICES "Before the project we received practically no information on SRH, including STI/HIV/AIDS and unwanted pregnancy. I know girls who have fallen pregnant just because they have no money for contraceptives." Student, Mongolian State University.
Peer educators promoted knowledge of the MFWA as a source of information and support for HIV/AIDS as well as for broader sexual reproductive health issues affecting youth. Youth
were encouraged to access SRH services, which in turn helped service providers to develop a more youth-friendly approach. The MFWA would like to expand the project into the Chinese border area where a high number of girls turn to sex work because of extreme financial hardship. Implementation would be relatively straightforward because of the network of MFWA centres there. The organization also enjoys good cooperation with public sector health organizations in the province as well as a high level of buy-in and support from other NGOs.
MEASURING THE IMPACT Students distributed HIV/AIDS literature in university dormitories together with condoms and information on their proper use. Oral contraceptives were distributed to female students to prevent unwanted pregnancy. Although some of the peer educators feared they would be ignored by more senior students, the high level of awareness of project activities suggests that overall their efforts were highly successful. A poll found that 50â&#x20AC;&#x201C;60 per cent of
university students were aware of the project's activities. "Our workforce is 86 per cent women, comprising mostly young people aged 16-25 who arrive in the city after finishing secondary school in rural areas and many heard about HIV/AIDS for the first time through the project. The disparity between urban and rural youth is like day and night." Factory manager, Armano.
LESSONS LEARNED FREE SUPPLIES AND EASY ACCESS Free contraception and condoms for cash-strapped young people are very important. NEED MORE PEER EDUCATORS Youth are mobile so it is necessary to train greater numbers. BENEFICIARY PARTICIPATION Youth participation in project design and implementation leads to greater success. PARTNERSHIP DEVELOPMENT Collaboration between NGOs and with government organizations is beneficial.
JAPAN TRUST FUND FOR HIV/AIDS (JTF) is IPPF's first fund established exclusively to support the HIV/AIDS prevention programmes of its Member Associations. This is funded entirely by the Government of Japan and is a key instrument in IPPF's response to HIV/AIDS. The objective of the JTF is to enhance the institutional capacity and managerial skills of IPPF and its Member Associations in Africa and Asia to carry out effective and innovative prevention and care programmes for STI/HIV/AIDS. Since the establishment of the JTF in October 2000, 32 Member Associations in Africa and Asia have received support from the fund to implement a total of 64 projects. 2