Sescon, Jose Narciso Melchor C. MD DPOGS, Remedios AIDS Foundation
Manila, Philippines

SHOPPING MALL-BASED YOUTH CENTER:
AN INNOVATIVE APPROACH TO HIV/STD INTERVENTION
TARGETING THE YOUNG ADULTS

OBJECTIVE:

To provide innovative, holistic and comprehensive HIV/STD and reproductive health services targeting the young adults and adolescents of Tondo Manila cruising the mall and fun centers.

PROJECT:

A series of needs assessment and discussions among young adults and adolescents both school-based and out of school youth (11 to 21 years old)  were done. Participants to the forum were taken from random sampling from government run schools and private schools. Information and data gathered from the discussion helped project plans to operationalize a shopping mall based youth center. The center is designed to be a non-stigmatizing, non-discriminating and non-stereotyping youth friendly place that caters to the needs of the youth. Innovative IEC approaches are undertaken to encourage target audience to avail of the center's services. Youth peer educator will be around to monitor and manage the center. Its center has been designed to suit the taste of the youth.

RESULTS:

Careful planning and designing of a mall based youth center has been realized based on a need raised by the target audience. A youth friendly channel and venue has been the outcome of this careful planning.

LESSONS LEARNED:

Consultation with the target audience is not enough. There is a need to involve them from the planning stage and even making them part of the project implementing team.