FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE YOUNG PEOPLE OF VIETNAM - HELPING YOUNG PEOPLE TO KNOW MORE ABOUT THEMSELVES

FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE YOUNG PEOPLE
OF VIETNAM - HELPING YOUNG PEOPLE TO KNOW MORE ABOUT THEMSELVES

RESEARCH CENTRE FOR GENDER, FAMILY
AND ENVIRONMENT IN DEVELOPMENT (CGFED)

A BENEFIT FOR YOUR COMMUNITY
Since 2003 the Research Centre for Gender, Family and Our objective has been to improve the quality of life for
Environment in Development (CGFED) has worked to young men and women through the promotion of sexual
improve sexual and reproductive health and gender issues and reproductive health. Our project has been running in
in Vietnam. four different project sites where we have been promoting
comprehensive sexuality education and gender equality
among young people and their parents.

Through our work we have perfected a model for the best
way to address gender, sexual and reproductive issues in
Vietnam. Along the way we have worked to promote active
participation from both youth, their parents and the whole
community. We have collaborated closely with authorities,
decision and policy makers, local schools, health service
providers and mass media to get the best possible results.

This booklet will present you with our main results – and the
conclusion is clear: Giving youth the opportunity to know

2 FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE YOUNG PEOPLE OF VIETNAM

more about themselves is a huge help for the young people
as individuals, as well as their parents and the community
as a whole. We therefore want to encourage other commu-
nities to take up this very beneficial work in those areas of
Vietnam where it is not in place.
Youths and adolescents are the future of all countries.
In this booklet you can read more about our work and about With efforts towards the younger generation, CGFED
how to bring these ideas to your community. has proven their participatory approach, bringing the
expected chan es not only in awareness but also in
g
attitudes, and behaviors for a healthy and safe life for
young people and adolescents in the four project sites.
Testimonies about significant changes, best practices
of stakeholders in the project, especially those com-
ming direct from youths and adolescents are worthy
for reference and will encourage intitiatives to protect
sexual and reproductive health and rights”

Dr. Nguyen Quoc Anh, Director of the Center for Population Information
and Documentation; Editor in Chef of the ”Population and Development
Magazine”, General Office for Population and Family Planning, Ministry
of Health.

HELPING YOUNG PEOPLE TO KNOW MORE ABOUT THEMSELVES 3

OUR APPROACH
During the past years we have been implementing the We have been addressing parents, grandparents, school
project in four areas across Vietnam. We have targeted teachers, key local people, local authorities, mass organiza-
adolescents aged 12-19 years and young people aged 19- tions and leaders of villages about these issues. Because
22 years. of this, we are able to create a supportive environment to
implement sexuality education for young people and adoles-
We found that in order to successfully carry out sexuality cents.
education in schools for young people and adolescents, it is
not enough only to guide and teach our young people and The four different settings we have been working in are
adolescents about sexual reproductive health. quite different from each other but are collectively represen-
One also needs to implement activities tive of the different parts of Vietnam. Therefore, we believe
to raise awareness in the local community. that our experiences from the project can be easily imple-
mented in all areas of the country.


Project sites – Map showing:

LUC NGAN DISTRICT, BAC GIANG
PROVINCE: the mountainous area
of Vietnam

Y YEN DISTRICT, NAM DINH
PROVINCE: the northern Red
River delta
Name of the project:
“Ensuring Young People’s Rights to
Sexual and Reproductive Health and
protection against HIV/AIDS in rural
areas of Vietnam.
A project building on the knowledge, SONG CAU TOWN, PHU YEN
skills and competences of young PROVINCE: the coastal area of
people, their parents and the local central Vietnam
community”.
BINH CHANH DISTRICT,
HO CHI MINH CITY: the Mekong
River delta of southern Vietnam


OUR ACTIVITIES
In total we have established eight different clubs where Another service that CGFED has been undertaking is
youths can come for bimonthly meetings and parents can capacity building of our local partners. There have been
come once a month for a meeting. CGFED provides experts trainings on subjects such as ‘Youth participation’ and
who give presentations on subjects on reproductive and ‘Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights’ and trainings
sexual health as well as counselling in the clubs. on facilitating club meetings using participatory methods
among other things.
In each community we have established two community
bookshelves with books and other reading materials on the CGFED is also providing support in terms of communication
subjects that are discussed during the meeting. The reading and advocacy both at national and local levels.
materials target different age groups in the clubs.

CGFED has also been providing training for local trainers so
they gain the skills and knowledge to train parents, adoles-
cents and youths.


QUOTE FROM LOCAL LEADER

Decision makers are not detached from
their communities. It is also their children
who benefit from the improvements we have
seen with the project in our community
”
Pham Kim Thuc, President of the District Women’s Union, Vice-standing Manager
of the local project management board, Y Yen district

YOUTH PARTICIPATION – A CORE VALUE
We have invited youth to participate in all the activities In the start-up phase of the youth clubs the club management
in the project. Youth participation has been one of the team and the local project management boards guide a core
cornerstones of the project for many years. Giving the of young people about the contents of the meetings, the
young people themselves a voice as to how the activities main themes and methods for implementation.
are held, what issues are discussed and what to buy for
snacks for the meetings has shown to be a very important When the young people are involved in the whole process of
strategy for the success of the project. planning the activities, it is clearly reflected in the number of
activities, number of participants and the performance.
The clubs play a central role in the projects in order to attract
and involve young people.


“When core young people participate in developing plans for meet-
ings and facilitating the club meetings, it attracts many other young
people. The core young people have a better understanding of the
topics that young people find attractive and interesting”.
Young person, Binh Chanh District

“We always maintain a group of 8-10 core young people and gradu-
ally empower them to facilitate, develop plans and schedules for
the club meetings with their group. In addition, we allocate a small
amount of money for them to manage and enable them to buy small Up to December 2011:
gifts and sweets for the meetings”. • 1,335 adolescents and young people participated
Key person, Luc Ngan District in the training courses (167% of the project goal)
• 949 adolescents and young people participated in
the clubs (119% of the project goal)
• 52,655 adolescents and young people participa-
ted in outreach activities in the community and in
schools (compared to the project goal of 800
participants)


ACTIVITIES FOR YOUNG PEOPLE
It is our experience that the best results are obtained when we “Normally, we perform songs, hip-hop dancing and games
have been providing attractive, lively and interesting methods in all activities with the purpose that our youths and adoles-
for teaching youth – and the activities should be done in a way cent club members find it interesting to participate in those
so they at all times are suitable for the age group of the audi- activities. By doing this, we do not have to invite our friends
ence. to join the activities. Some of my friends would like to par-
ticipate in club meetings as they know that games are held
Our aim is that the activities for young people and during those activities”.
adolescents, such as meetings, trainings and other Group discussion for young people and adolescents, Luc Ngan district
extra-curricular activities in schools and outreach activities in
communities are attractive, lively, interesting and familiar to “In developing and performing role-plays and dramas, young
the target group. For example, role-play, crosswords, puz- people and adolescents themselves directly write the scenarios
zles, etc. as well as act in such dramas. This method is highly effective,
as the young people and adolescents can adjust the content
Those activities help disseminate new knowledge of sexual of the drama to better suit their family according to their
and reproductive health and rights. Moreover, by using and age, and their peers’ needs. Additionally, via this method of
applying those methods, it is much easier to encourage and performing role-plays and dramas enables young people and
involve young people and adolescents to participate. adolescents to gain a deeper understanding of the issues”.
Group discussion for young people and adolescents, Y Yen district.


“Changes in meeting methods such as letting the young people take
part in role-plays and dramas, using colorful pictures and images,
developing leaflets, crosswords, etc. do not lead to a large increase
in the number of young people and adolescents in the clubs but does
make changes to the level of participation of this primary target
group of the project. Many adolescents ecome bold, interesting and
b
eager in participating and more self-confidently express and share
their ideas and opinions than before”.
Group discussion with key persons, Binh Chanh district.


LOCAL LEADERS HAVE THE KEY
TO IMPROVEMENT
Another integral part of the project has been the close teachers, schools, the education sector and health service
connection with the local community, with local leaders providers have all been involved in the project activities in
showing the responsibility of improving the health and order to gain knowledge and understanding - which also
knowledge of youth and their parents. enables them to encourage young people to participate in
the project.
Since the beginning of the project, key local people such as
local policy and decision makers, mass organizations such To sustain the activities on sexual and reproductive health
as the Women’s Union, Farmers Union and Youth Union, and rights we encourage the involvement of the official
structures in Vietnam. It has been shown that the coopora-
tion between the project and the school system is vital to the
sustainability of the project.

Most of the project sites have representatives of the
Women’s Union and the Youth Union in the project man-
agement board and all of the project sites have representa-
tives of the Women’s Union and the Youth Union in the club
management teams.

Based on the experience from the first project phase and
results of consultations with local partners, the local project


management boards have been established at each site, in-
cluding representatives from the district people’s committee,
health-care department, education and training department,
Centre for Population and Family Planning, Women’s Union,
Youth Union, Mass Media agency.

Additionally, key persons from other mass organizations also
participate in specific activities, as well as meetings with the
local project management board if necessary.

At each local site, one organization has been appointed as
local project coordinator to support the local project man-
agement board:
• Luc Ngan district, Bac Giang province: Women’s Union “Introducing the education sectors into the local ma agement
n
• Y Yen district, Nam Dinh province: Women’s Union board helped improve the participation of leaders from the
• Song Cau town, Phu Yen province: Centre for Population district education and training department as well as school
and Family Planning leaders. Guidance from the leaders of district education and
• Binh Chanh district, Ho Chi Minh city: District Bureau of training departments to school leaders ensures favorable
Public Health conditions and supports young people and adolescents to
participate in trainings in schools. This is the factor that helps
promote effective youth participation”.
Local key person, Y Yen district


PARENTS ARE ALSO GETTING INVOLVED
It has been a great benefit to actively involve the youth in the issues. Parents support and encourage their children to
planning and the execution of the project. But it has been of participate in the project activities based on the knowledge
equally great value to involve the parents so that they gain they have gained. In addition the parents also have a better
knowledge and awareness of sexual reproductive health and understanding of the issues when they are talking to their
rights. children about them.

This participation gives parents the skills to support and “Concerning awareness among parents and adolescents we
communicate with their children on issues of sexual and can see a lot of changes. Not only in family members of the
reproductive health and rights, HIV and AIDS and other club but also other people in the village. For families life
becomes more harmoneous and there is a more equal relati-
onship between youth and their parents, which is good. We
can discuss more freely together about these issues”.
Father, Y Yen district.


“This method of getting people involved is very efficient as
the club managers are prestigious persons in the local com-
munity. Moreover, once they are fully informed, parents
can understand the benefits brought by the project. Thus,
many parents have encouraged and supported their chil-
dren to participate in the activities of the project. We, the
adolescents, also have the chance to express our opinions
to our parents”.
Young person, Binh Chanh District
“Young people can access the internet and get different
“When the club for parents was first set up, I participated kinds of information and images. It is important that we as
and learned many interesting things. Especially, thanks parents can give them good information about reproductive
to the club, I realized the importance of taking care of our health. At first it was a very sensitive issue to talk about for
children’s sexual and reproductive health and encour- example condoms and boys and girls. It was strange in our
aged my children to participate in the club because of the society at that time and we were very hesitant to join the
interesting issues and usefull knowledge brought by the club. But then the members of staff from the clubs came to
project”. our houses and persuaded us to come and then we started
Group discussion for parents, Song Cau town coming. And we are so happy they did, because now we
want to come every time”.
Group discussion for parents, Y Yen district.


MY PARENTS ENCOURAGED ME TO PARTICIPATE
Nguyen Thuy Trang, 15 years old After attending the trainings I feel more self-confident.
And I have learned about gender and sexual and repro-
I started attending club meetings when I was in 7th grade. ductive health. We are going through puberty. So now I
I wanted to learn more about gender and sexuality edu- know about the development of boys and girls into men
cation and about how our bodies work. At first I did not and women at our age.
understand this. I also had a bad impression of people
living with HIV. My friends and I did not dare to touch and My parents encouraged me to participate. They want me
interact with people who are HIV positive. But now we to learn more - and my parents also take part in the club
do, after we have learned a lot from the trainings and feel meetings. After the meetings I mainly talk to my mom
comfortable about interacting. about these issues.

I talk about sexuality education with my girl friends. We
talk about what could happen if we had sex with boys.
There could be very serious consequences: unwanted
pregnancy, syphilis or other sexually transmitted infections
and maybe even HIV.


After attending the trainings,
I feel more self-confident. And
I have learned about gender
and reproductive health
Nguyen Thuy Trang, 15 years old.
”

I truly believe that I will have sex later rather than earlier. young people will not make as many mistakes as they
Now I much better understand the risks and consequences. would, if they are not trained.

If this project could be replicated in other parts of Vietnam,
a lot of young people would learn about these issues,
which would be very good for them, their parents and the
whole community. Certainly behavior will change and


TAKING THE PROJECT TO OTHER
PARTS OF VIETNAM
We have found a recipe for assisting the development of CGFED has worked in collaboration with the provincial
young people and the community as a whole. education and training departments in Nam Dinh and Phu
Yen province, as well as the district education and training
Originally there were 8 clubs at the beginning of the project, departments in the Luc Ngan and Binh Chanh districts to
but by December 2011 we have replicated 72 new clubs carry out extra curricular activities on sex education with
across the 4 districts:
• Yen district: 36 newly replicated clubs across the dis-
Y
trict. Those clubs are managed by the District Women’s
Union.
• Song Cau town: 21 newly replicated clubs across
the province of Phu Yen managed by the Provincial
Department of Population and Family Planning.
• Luc Ngan district: 11 newly replicated clubs
across the district managed by the District
Women’s Union
• Binh Chanh: 4 newly replicated clubs across
Hung Long commune managed by Hung Long
commune people’s committee.
The method of involving youths has
also been applied in our new clubs.


We believe that it is important for a local leader to
have a strategy for youth participation, because it
will help local leaders to develop strategies for young
people in general. If local leaders care about youth
participation in their community, their activities can
be made famous and effective”
Pham Kim Ngoc, Director of CGFED

methods and contents provided by the project. The main have established 28 youth friendly counselling corners in
themes have been related to sexuality education and local communities and schools.
youth participatory methods have been widely and regu-
larly applied to extra curricular activities by 152 secondary To successfully implement those activities, we have carried
and high schools at the four local sites. out training for the newly replicated clubs, and for school
teachers on sexual and reproductive health and rights as
Additionally, in order to strengthen the youth’s approach to well as active teaching methods, i.e. participatory methods
sexual and reproductive health, information on rights and that involve the target group’s participation.
counselling, has been promoted by our local partners, who


“After taking part in the training and reading through the “Previously during extra-curricular activities, female
guidance for trainers on gender, sexual and reproductive teachers often talked from beginning to the end, then asked
health and rights and HIV/AIDS prevention for young peo- whether pupils had any questions or not, leading to the
ple and adolescents, I myself found this material essential point that pupils were not interested in the activities. After
for me to teach my children and my pupils. We often hold I participated in the training for trainers provided by the
talks, counselling sessions relating to sexual and reproduc- project, I shared those teaching methods with my col-
tive health and rights during the extra-curricular activities leagues (such as role plays, discussions). Thus, our pupils
at the beginning of the week. In those sessions, teachers are now more interested in those extra-curicular activities.
will act as the guide or facilitator to encourage our pupils From now on, I will directly be in charge of those extra-
to participate as well we tell them not to hesistate to ask curricular activities relating to sexual and reproductive
or talk with their teachers and parents if they have any health in school, because I was trained by the project”.
questions or problems. Even pupils from other classes have Female teacher in secondary school, Binh Chanh district.
come to ask me for counselling about their concerns, ques-
tions or problems they have. This reflects that our pupils
are very interested in those issues”.
Teacher in charge of sex education in school, Nam Dinh province.


“The replication of project models has been supported and and parents support and apply this model of comprehenisve
implemented by local partners, setting a good precedent for sexuality education!”
programs with similar goals and objectives as CGFED’s. Dr. Nguyen Quoc Anh, Director of the Center for Population Information and

Education on sexual and reproductive health for young Documentation; Editor in Chief of the ”Population and Development Magazine”,

people and adolescents using a participatory method helps General Office for Population and Family Planning, Ministry of Health.

to create a supportive environment for schools to provide
their students with knowledge and skills. Students will be
more interested and active in assessing information and
practising their behavior to improving themselves. There
would be vigorous and active changes in addressing emar-
ging issues relating to youths’ and adolescents’ sexual and
reproductive health if schools, mass organizations, sectors


22 VÌ LỢI ÍCH CỦA THANH THIẾU NIÊN VIỆT NAM

ABOUT CGFED
Research Centre for Gender, Family and Environment For several years, CGFED together with many national and
in Development (CGFED) is an NGO working on applied international organisations have carried out successful pro-
research and advocacy with the expectation of empowering grams on reproductive health, sexual health and rights such
each individual and community to build up their happiness as “Ensuring Young People’s Rights to Sexual and Repro-
on the foundation of gender equity. ductive Health and Rights including protection against HIV
AIDS in rural areas of Vietnam”. This project builds on the
With the experience of 18 years following gender equity knowledge, skills and competencies of young people, their
and equality from a human rights perspective, CGFED parents and the local community.
aims to deal with gender issues in society, the family and
between individuals: gender and health, gender and envi- The project has been supported by Danida through the
ronment, gender in population and development, etc. Danish Family Planning Association, which is a Danish
NGO working for a world where everybody has access
to information and health services in relation to sexuality,
pregnancy and childbirth – as well fighting for sexual and
reproductive rights for all.


THIS CAN BE PART OF YOUR COMMUNITY
In this booklet you can read about the CGFED project that has been running in four different parts of Vietnam,
where we have been promoting sexual and reproductive health and rights as well as gender equality towards
young people and their parents.

Since 2003 many young people and their parents have benefitted from the work done and it is our goal to spread
these good ideas to other parts of Vietnam.

We hope you will read more about our work and ideas and help them become part of your community. If you take
action it can help improve your community.

Please do not hesitate to contact us in any of the ways below.

Contact address:
Research Centre for Gender, Family and Environment in Development (CGFED)
Office: 19-A26, Nghia Tan, Cau Giay, Hanoi, Vietnam
Tel: (84-4) 37 565 929
Fax: (84-4) 37 565 874
E-mail: info@cgfed.org.vn; cgfed1993@gmail.com RESEARCH CENTRE FOR GENDER, FAMILY
Website : www.cgfed.org.vn AND ENVIRONMENT IN DEVELOPMENT (CGFED)

FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE YOUNG PEOPLE OF VIETNAM - HELPING YOUNG PEOPLE TO KNOW MORE ABOUT THEMSELVES

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