YES4YES

Past interventions by FPOP on the Filipino youth was found to be high on information campaign but low on provision of clinical services. They were also focused on preventing unintended pregnancies and were found to lack uniformity, consistency and institutionalization. This project is an attempt to bring SRHR services readily available to young people, particularly those from the poor, marginalized, socially excluded and underserved communities.

YES4YES is a two-year project that aims to improve Youth Friendly Service (YFS) delivery in FPOP clinics and contribute to the development of comprehensive sexuality education (CSE) and peer education modules and manuals within FPOP. This project will focus on bringing youth-friendly, gender-sensitive ASRH services to young people who belong to the Out-of-School Youth (OSY) category, while increasing access of this group to correct and accurate ASRH information, developing life skills and nurturing positive attitudes and values.

OSYs can be found in the communities and are the most vulnerable, disadvantaged youth. They are frequently found in the communities organized as informal groups or gangs in street corners, or doing menial or itinerant jobs. They are most active in community sports, singing events and other culture-bound activities. Sub-sub-sectors of the OSY population are the young people in prostitution (YPIP), young men having sex with men (YMSM) and sexually active unmarried young women who are most vulnerable to unintended pregnancy. YPIPs and YMSMs are particularly most vulnerable to HIV and AIDS infection. Recent data from the AIDS Registry particularly cites an elevated HIV transmission rate for these groups. Therefore, focusing interventions for the OSY sub-sector will do a particular service to them.

The project will be piloted in four areas, namely, Baguio City, Angeles City, Quezon City and Naga City with each one having an average effective reach of 500 OSYs. These are the OSYs who can either be reached by direct ASRH services and information campaign, become part of certain activities and mechanisms that will be organized under this project, or be influenced by those who have been effectively reached by this project.

Targeted are OSYs belonging to the 15 to 24 age bracket. They are to be evenly divided at 50 percent young women and 50 percent young men.

The project is funded by the Government of Netherlands through the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF).