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Title and Organization: Oop! = Our Option for Positive Lifestyle., Thai Youth Network on HIV/AIDs
Country of Residence: Thailand Thailand
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About Me   About Me
The situation of HIV/AIDS and the question of appropriate sexual education for young people are topics of great concern in today’s society. Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and Governmental Organizations (GOs) are voicing their concerns and are trying various methods to address these issues. There have been successes; however, many programs lack a holistic approach that addresses the social, cultural, political, and structural complexities of these issues. Furthermore, these programs often exclude youth and in doing so, neglect a valuable source of information and enthusiasm and ignore a powerful dissemination tool. This hinders the ability of these programs to achieve their goals.

Recognizing this situation, more than 200 youth groups with over 10 years experience working in HIV/AIDS and sexual education joined together to form the Thai National Youth Network. Drawing out the lessons learned from their experience working with their peers, the network developed strategies and procedures to advocate youth participation and impel national policy to support appropriate HIV/AIDS and sexual education for young people.

At the International AIDS Conference held in Thailand from the 11th –16th of July 2004, the Thai National Youth Network was the core team working with the community programs committee and with youth delegates from all over the world. Their important work helped to create both the Global Youth Coalition on HIV/AIDS (GYCA) and the Asian Youth Network (AYN). The GYCA’s objectives are to increase communication between international youth groups tackling the HIV/AIDS pandemic and to collect and disseminate information in order to build the capacity of youth groups worldwide. While it is important to address the issue of HIV/AIDS on a global scale, it is also important to focus efforts at a national and regional level; a “bottom-up” approach. To achieve this, the Thai National Youth Network continues their work at a national and community level, sharing their expertise regionally through the medium of the Asian Youth Network. In turn, the Asian Youth Network links with the Global Youth Coalition on AIDS.

Thai Nation Youth Strategic Plan
1. Advocate for adults and policy makers to accept and support methodology of youth participation.
2. Lobby to expand the sexual education curriculum and promote innovative activities that target sexual education, HIV/AIDS and human rights.
3. Develop health services and learning centers for youth.
4. Recruit technical support to create a database of program information and lessons learn for the use of youth leaders and NGOs.
5. Encourage the participation of youth groups.
6. Network, exchange information, and share lessons learned and best practices of youth work.
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User Joined: October 2, 2006
Last Login: June 18, 2007
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