Jose Narciso Melchor C. Sescon, MD DPOGS, Marvin Rivera, Eric A. Malabanan
Remedios AIDS Foundation

MOBILIZING THE PRIVATE SECTOR FOR YOUTH INTERVENTION:
THE YOUTH ZONE EXPERIENCE
- SHOPPING MALL-BASED YOUTH CENTER

PROGRAM: YOUTH ZONE

GOAL:

• Empower Filipino youth to make informed decisions in relation to reproductive and sexual health concerns.

GENERAL OBJECTIVE:

• To use shopping malls to deliver a package of IEC activities and services among the youth ages 10-24 years old.

PROJECT PARTNERS:

• Remedios AIDS Foundation, Inc (RAF)
• United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)
• Tutuban Properties
• Tondo community and its nearby schools

PROJECT COMPONENTS:

• Capability Building Intiatives
  -staff training on various ARH issues / concerns such as:
     :   -Reproductive Health - HIV/AIDS/STIs
     :   -Gender and Sexuality
     :   -Abortion and Domestic Violence
  -youth peer facilitators training on ARH
  -Knowing your bodies - fertility awareness
  -Desensitization, gender and sexuality
  -Life skills training - teamwork, value reformation
  
• Information Education Communication Services
  - Film showings followed by small group discussions
  - Group dynamics / board activities
  - Art therapies
  - Resource Center
  - IEC materials production and distribution
  - Indoor sports activities/board games
  - Internet Relay Chat (IRC) counseling
• Community Mobilization
  A. PRIVATE SECTOR - Tutuban Properties, Inc
  - cost sharing of operational expenses of the YZ project
  - estimated counterpart: PhP20,00/month (US$500.00/month)
  B. THE TONDO COMMUNITY
  - commitment of schools to participate YZ activities within Tondo community
  - commitment of out of school youth / other community youth organizations within the community
  

ISSUES:

ADOLESCENCE

• a period of change from childhood to adulthood
• period when values and skills are acquired
• health and lives are put in situations that may lead to the risky behavior leading to HIV/AIDS, STIs, teenage pregnancy and abortion.
• No available adolescent sexuality education among the youth
• Philippine society has limited and does not provide access to "adolescent friendly" services

KEY POINTS IN PRIVATE SECTOR MOBILIZATION:

• Internet counseling is gaining its popularity among the youth has proved to be an effective alternative mode of counseling aside from phone and face-to-face counseling that the Remedios Foundation has offered.
• Adolescent sexual health issues can be discussed with confidentiality and anonymity through this innovative modality.

CONCLUSION:

• Present your project objectives/ goals clearly with management
  -Roles and responsibilities clarified among each partner agencies
  -This will be a good reference point of commitment and support.
  
• State "THE BENEFIT" of each partner agencies.
  -Few shopping mall establishments are into such initiatives. Shopping mall will be made known to introduce such activities.
• Stress on social responsibilities toward its constituents.
  -Shopping mall companies will get the heart of the community because of such cause oriented strategies rather than dwell only with gaining profit.
  -People will "come" more to their shopping mall availing services it does provide.
• Maximize available "resources" being shared for project implementation.
  -Whatever is being offered, USE IT to the fullest
  -Good ocular inspection of available resources is worthwhile doing beforehand.
• Consult with partners
  -This is crucial, to let them know of project developments and interventions
• Cherish partnerships set with the private sector
  -Private sector might "NOT BE READY" at the moment, but consider this as a WINDOW of opportunity for you to work on at the start and later on expand.
  -Maximize such partnerships that has been started. Share project successes with them.

YOUTH ZONE ACCOMPLISHMENTS

• Total number of client reached: 3,000 (one year) ages 10-24 years attended in by both male and female youth clients
• YZ has assured clients of an available, accessible "adolescent friendly" services (education & direct medical services)
• Internet Relay Chat (IRC) counseling - an innovative tool utilized in providing ARH services among the youth. A total of 3,010 counseling sessions conducted.
• Project approach: consultative and participatory among clients.
• Maximize available resources provided for by partner agencies.

CONCLUSION:

• Innovative project intervention like the YOUTH ZONE is a must in targeting the youth
• Project successes demonstrated by the commitment of various stakeholders of the community
• This has fostered improved networking relationships with the community.
• Youth Zone works in enabling its youth clients informed and empowered to exercise their reproductive rights.