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The JYAN started as an initiative of the USAID funded JA-STYLE Project that emerged out of an advocacy training-workshop that was held in August 2006 at the University of the West Indies, Mona Campus. JYAN is designed to develop youth leaders in advocacy, public education and capacity building in the areas of sexual and reproductive health and rights, violence prevention, education and training and arts, culture and society. In our vision of being the voice of youth promoting participation and demanding positive change in Jamaica, the network has successfully implemented programmes and initiatives which are considered notable achievements. The Jamaica Youth Advocacy Network (JYAN) within the 3 years of its existence has sought to: 1. Increase young people’s knowledge of development issues- health and education, national security and social protection as well as policies that impact such. Commitments agreed upon at the ICPD and other international fora and conferences are critical to the work of the network as capacity-building trainings and other mechanisms have been utilized to increase knowledge. JYAN has successfully trained more than three hundred young people in youth advocacy, lobbying and representation from the parishes of Kingston & St. Andrew, Westmoreland, St. James, St. Catherine, St. Ann, St. Mary and Clarendon (parishes in Jamaica). 2. The network works toward building young people’s capacity to participate in the policy formulation process and be a voice for youth. From our capacity-building trainings, many of the trainees have become trainers and are currently serving as youth educators; youth facilitators, advocates, and spokespersons on a number of issues surrounding Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH), Crime and Violence, Youth Advocacy and Participation. From the training the participants were able to facilitate the development of effective youth advocacy campaigns in Jamaica; empower and equip Jamaican youth with the skills necessary to participate in the decision making processes that impact them; increase the participation of youth in the decision making processes of the society. 3. Another major achievement has been creating opportunities for youth participation in the political and social processes that enable the achievement of ICPD Actions, the Millenium Development Goals (MDGs) and overall youth development. The Network hosted the first Youth Advocacy Conference in Jamaica, called (Yute X) where approximately six hundred young people, NGOs, community based organizations, government bodies and officials were engaged in discussion on issues affecting youth across the Caribbean while identifying possible solutions to these issues. The network has also managed to provide effective youth participation on national bodies developed to foster change in SRH. These include: a. Appointment of network members to serve on the Community Advisory Board (CAB) for HIV vaccine trial in Jamaica. b. Jamaica HIV and AIDS Civil Society Forum Youth Representative c. Jamaica HIV and AIDS Civil Society Forum nominee to the Jamaica Global Fund CCM to be reconstituted in June 2009 d. Member of the Inter-Ministerial Team (IMTY) on Youth (highest youth policy decision-making body in Jamaica) e. Co-chair of the Health Multi-functional Team (MFT) tracking the implementation of the National Youth Policy of Jamaica (MFTs are sub-committees to the IMTY) f. Member of the Empowerment and Participation Multi-functional Team tracking the implementation of the National Youth Policy of Jamaica Since August 2006 the JYAN developed two behaviour change communication projects tackling school-based gang-violence (Youth Help2) and the need for comprehensive sex-education (Sex Ed: Best Said) in High Schools. The Sex Ed: Best Said Project is now being sustained with support from the Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria; and the National HIV/STI Programme. Sex Ed: Best Said is one of the few curriculum-based sex education programmes that embrace a youth-on-youth approach that ensures that young people are at the centre of the HIV/AIDS and overall sexual and reproductive health and rights agenda. As a part of its Arts, Culture and Society Unit within the Advocacy Programmes Department, the JYAN has formulated the Jamaica Youth Chorale (JYC) in an effort to utilize the arts as a tool for empowerment and facilitating change. Other Achievements: · Member, National Youth Parliament Planning Committee · JYAN Member - Nekiesha Lewis is GYCA's National Focal Point for Jamaica · Public Education Work Group on Alternative Methods of Behaviour Modification, Ministry of Education · eMentor, TakingITGlobal.org Make It Happen (MIH) Online Course (2008) · Presenter, Youth Opportunities Unlimited Parenting Workshop (2008) · Presenter, Youth Opportunities Unlimited Healthy Minds - Healthy Deeds Workshop (2008) · Delegate, UNESCO Regional Meeting ‘Youth Networks & Policies’ (August 2008) · Ignite the Americas: Youth Policy Forum (2008) · UNESCO Regional Meeting on Youth Networks and Policies (October 2008) · International AIDS Conference (2007 & 2008) · UN High Level Meeting on HIV/AIDS (UNGASS 2006)
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