From choice, a world of possibilities
A success story from IPPF EN
YSAFE Network – Youth Sexual Awareness for Europe
EPF Autumn Regional Advocacy
Seminar for Patient Leaders
Budapest, Hungary
25-27 October 2010
What is YSAFE?
Youth Sexual Awareness For Europe
Young volunteers/staff at Member
Associations of IPPF EN
Over 100 members from 41 MAs
Established in 2006
IPPF EN
Establishing the YSAFE Network – Why?
 Involve Young People (YP) in IPPF EN decision
making and implementation of projects
 Strengthen youth participation in MAs
 Improve exchange of skills, information,
experience, sharing ideas and networking among
YP
 Provide YP with SRHR knowledge and skills
 Increase opportunities for YP to participate in
SRHR initiatives across the region
IPPF EN
Establishing the YSAFE Network – How?
 First discussed in March 2005 at youth
participation workshop
 Consultations with youth groups and YP; 2006
Launch meeting with YP
 Members: YP under 25 actively involved with
their MA, over 25 interested parties
 Challenges: Involve YP in MA governance bodies
 Challenges: Recruit and maintain active young
volunteers
IPPF EN
The role of YP in the governance, the management
of the network and the implementation of activities
 20% YP on IPPF EN governance
 YP are active in different ways in the MAs: on
governance, as advocates, in administration, running
youth centers, implementing activities
 5 members of YSAFE SC Committee are YP
 YSAFE Coordinator is YP
IPPF EN
Activities of YSAFE : SAFE II
 SAFE II aims to enhance the SRHR of all youth
across Europe
 Policy
 Research
 Good Practice
 Youth Participation
 Stakeholder
IPPF EN
Activities of YSAFE : Youth Link
 Goal: build a youth movement for SRHR
 Kick-off with trainings to develop knowledge skills to
address questions on SRHR issues & advocacy
 Creation of statement on CSE & PLWHIV
 Presence at conference and
meetings to make interventions
IPPF EN
Activities of YSAFE : Joining forces
 Build SRHR advocacy skills of YP from North and
South
 Building capacities to advocate for Overseas
Development Aid in the European context
 Advocate for support to SRHR in European
Commission development aid at the EU/ACP JPA
in Kigali
 YSAFE and YAM host an SRHR side meeting at
the EU-ACP JPA in Slovenia
 YSAFE and YAM attended EU-ACP Joint
Parliamentary Assembly (JPA) held in Prague
IPPF EN
Activities of YSAFE : I ♥ Being a Girl Project
 Project of YSAFE SC and YSAFE members
 May – October 2010
 “We believe that girls who are informed, life-
skilled, aware and empowered will live a fulfilling
life”
 Video testimonials of young girls on YouTube
 Blog: videos, stories, pictures, contributions
IPPF EN
Examples of benefits coming from YSAFE
 MAs project organized and led by YP
 Macedonia: “Decide” Short movie showing how good
practices affect girls decisions to become or not
become pregnant
 Czech Republic: Prima Gynda – Youth friendly
gynecologists
 Poland: SRHR trainings for medical students
IPPF EN
Key take-home message
 Mainstream Youth Participation in all aspects
• Involve YP in decision making processes, creation
and implementation projects
• “Nothing about us without us”
IPPF EN
Questions?
IPPF EN