REthink your health -Increasing awareness of importance of reproductive health among youth

There are more and more people who are having different reproductive health issues. As an association, we aim to identify the major issue for everyone seeking assistance on this route, provide solutions to their problems through workshops, and offer both practical and psychological support. We came to the conclusion that there is no place where young people can obtain information regarding reproductive health after doing all the activities we did. Young people need a place where they may learn the proper information, educate themselves, and, most importantly, have someone to talk to if they have any questions or difficulties. Young people are not aware of the potential obstacles they may face when they decide to have children and when they engage in sexual activity. They do not understand the value of prevention as well and are not open to talk easily on the topic. We also recognized the need for having a systematic approach to this topic and we thought that it is important to advocate for including the reproductive health issues into formal education of young people where it is not included and to work on developing the methodology for transferring this knowledge to young people in an adequate way.

The goal of this project was to create an informal education approach for increasing young people's knowledge and awareness of reproductive health. O1: We prepared a non-formal learning approach for increasing a knowledge about reproductive health with direct information, common challenges regarding reproduction health and support system for youth. Results: curriculum about RH, ToT, pilot workshops. O2: We created an online resource center for increasing the level of information and understanding of RH among youth. Young people can find information about RH and contact experts with their dilemmas. Results: web platform reproductive.me, e-learning modules, Q&A section. O3: For promotion the importance of education about RH and reaching institutional recognition and support for RH education, we implemented a campaign. Chance became a member of National WG for preparing the Strategy for RH organized by the Ministry for family and demography of RS. Connect had advocacy activities with international organizations. Results: SM campaign, traditional media campaign, advocacy activities with institutional representatives and international organizations.

Activities implemented within the project are as follows: 1. Kick-off meeting in person at the start of the project for project management tools and procedures setting. All other PM meetings were held online. 2. Curricula development- Expert developed the learning curricula which consists of 1-general information about the reproductive health, 2-information about the potential risks and how to work on prevention. Curricula refer also to the 3- support system which is available to young people when needed. 3. Training of trainers held- we organized a training for youth workers and young people to empower them for transferring this knowledge further to young people. 4. Web portal developed (reproductive.me)- it consists of all three modules presentation as well of information about the project and the part of the platform where young people can directly look fort the professional support through online chat. 5. Workshops for piloting the learning programs are organized in Serbia (Chance for Parenthood) and Macedonia (Connect International member organization). 6. Social media campaign made for the promotion of project results and implemented. Traditional media appearances also.

Project results and outcomes: - Learning curriculum for ensuring NFE programs for youth about reproductive health is developed; - 15 youth trainers are trained for supporting and multiplying learning points towards their peers. - 15 young trainers gave their feedback for the learning curriculum, web portal development and social media campaign. - Digital learning web portal reproductive.me is developed and available in Serbian and English language. It is made for the purpose to educate, inform and support. It includes video content on the topic and consists of three separate modules: Module 1- Reproductive health Module 2- Potential risks and prevention Module 3- Support system - Workshops for piloting the developed learning curricula are held for 108 young people who are now informed about the reproductive health, risks and prevention, as well about the support system; - Europe wide Social media campaign with the reach of 128 730 was implemented targeting young people for raising their awareness about importance of education about RH and advocacy for its sustainability; - We shared project results through traditional media appearances and Chances Magazine.