The journey towards becoming a young advocate

Young people face severe sexual and reproductive health problems. Rights for young people are a matter of life and death. Young people make up the majority of the world?’s population. But still they lack the right to crucial reproductive and sexual health services and information. Consequently, too many youth become infected with HIV infections; young women die unnecessary as a result of pregnancy complications. It is time to turn this tide!

We believe that decisions which affect young people should be planned and formed by young people themselves. Youth participation in the development, implementation and evaluation of policies, programs and services for young people are crucial for their success.

Dance4Life South Africa and CHOICE believe that young people can turn the tide! That?’s why they support young people to become agents of change in the field of HIV/AIDS and sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR).

Tell me and I will forget! / Show me and I may remember! / Involve me and I will understand!

Do you want to make change happen in your country? Dance4Life South Africa organises, in collaboration with CHOICE for youth and sexuality, a five-day journey towards becoming a young advocate. During this journey we will empower young people between the age of 18-26 to make a difference for young people and become active agents of change.

Flight plan: During the journey we will fly to different issues while using a wide variety of interactive methods, workshops and discussions. Moreover we will create a space where you can share your knowledge and experience, build an intercultural dialogue and expand your practical skills and understanding.

Goals and Objectives:

• Gain insight on what Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights are and what it stands for
• Learn about international conferences and agreements, focusing on SRHR and youth
• Gain better insight in what advocacy means
• Learn about advocacy cycle and processes (design, implementation and evaluation)
• Gain insight in what youth participation is and in theories on youth participation
• Acquire knowledge and skills on leadership and presentation skills
• Practice with project planning
• Learning about challenges and tools for a beginning organization
• Teambuilding


Location: Durban, South Africa

Notes:


• Fax completed application forms, with copy of Identity Document to 031-2020585.
• Incomplete forms will not be included in the selection, as well as forms without a copy of an ID attached.
• Costs of travel will be covered in a 100km radius of the City of Durban, due to limited funding.
• All your accommodation and meals are covered.
• Any extras : are for you/your organisations bill ie phone calls, spending money etc are not covered by the training.
• Application Deadline - 20 January 2007.


Contact details: Trish Naidoo, Dance4Life South Africa - Tel: 031-2020555; Fax: 031-2020585.

Organisations involved:


• Dance4Life South Africa - visit www.dance4lifesa.org.za
• CHOICE - CHOICE is a youth organisation promoting the sexual and reproductive rights of young people. We believe that decisions which affect young people should be planned and formed by young people themselves. Youth participation in the development, implementation and evaluation of policies, programs and services for young people are crucial for their success. CHOICE facilitates workshops and lectures and trains young people and youth groups in the Netherlands, Pakistan, Nepal and South Africa in the field of sexual and reproductive rights including HIV/AIDS.