Participating organisations: SASA (co-Lead), D4L (co-Lead), CIE, GGA, SASA, SU.
The foundations of this track are
- Many HIV and Aids programs are aimed at young people, yet exclude them from any meaningful participation in the design, implementation and evaluation thereof
- To remain appropriate and authentic young people need to be included at the various levels and phases of programs
- The models used to involve young people and children differ. In this learning track partners wish to learn from the different models used, their successes and difficulties and the perception of the young people and children about their involvement/participation in the projects that aim to improve their situation.
- This track challenges many of the current systems and assumptions inherent in the participating organisations and their practices.
Steps taken
- Mapping of how children/youth are included in programs that involve them (by a consultant)
- 'Best practice’ case studies were developed
- A 2-day workshop in September 2007 on Meaningful Participation
- A model (The Cube Model) was developed on how to involve children/youth in a meaningful way at various stages of project planning, implementation and evaluation
- Participating organisations have all started implementing their proposed track plans in including young people more and in better ways in the various phases of their programmes
- The Cube Model, specifically, was used by two of the participating organisations
Progress towards program objectives (September 2008)
Young people have been involved in programmes and organisations in a much greater capacity than before. In one instance (SASA) the Youth input is being presented by their nominee to the organisation's board, some of which has been used in their marketing strategy. In TAI the youth have been given guidelines and the responsibility to create and run a programme themselves. SU has gathered input from the youth where feedback will be given to the educators in the research feedback day in September, and will also be included in the master training in future. CIE is gathering data to use in the future processes, and D4L has planned, but has yet to implement their proposal.
Expected outputs
- Reduced adult dominated programs aimed at young people
- Increased participation of young people at various phases in current and future programs
- Changed organisational policy
- Case studies of increased representation of young people in organisations
- Tools developed from experience and learnings by including young people more and better
- A piloted Cube Model (tool) for organisations to use to work with the various levels of youth involvement
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