Meet and Greet our Y-PEERers

An interview with Nirmala Prajapati, an active Focal Point in Charge and trainer in Y-PEER Nepal.

"I am so much moved by the enthusiasm of all young people. And, as a Focal Point in Charge, I have learned to work hard which has in all ways brought the best out of me." 

Can you describe your experience in Y-PEER, what challenges, barriers and successes have you faced during the period of being a Y-PEERer? How has Y-PEER influenced your life/career? 

With Y-PEER as a certified trainer, I formally started my professional career, apart having several engagements in various organizations before. My role to coordinate with different stakeholders, agencies and allies, definitely had boost up my confidence and helped me to move my career forward. Sexual reproductive health and rights have always been a stigma in the community I live, though it was what Y-PEER worked on. 

The major challenges I faced working with Y-PEER was "youth participation" in general as there has always been cultural, financial, behavioural barriers which makes difficult to mobilize them being based on the issues of sexual and reproductive health and rights. Also, lack of sustainable projects and limited resources have always been barriers to reach out young minds that still lack general information about their sexuality, sexual health and rights.

At a distance from challenges and barriers, I along with Y-PEER have consistently worked hard organizing various events and programs, including youth from different regions of the country with limited resources. Given the fact, I am so much moved by the enthusiasm of all young people. And, as a Focal Point in Charge, I have learned to work hard which has in all ways brought the best out of me.

What benefits does Y-PEER offer to young people?

Y-PEER has always been a renowned network, which focus on the issues related to the sexual and reproductive health and rights of young people. Y-PEER in my country works in the communities where there are religious and cultural barriers and people hardly talk about their sexuality and sexual related issues. Y-PEER has been successfully able to implement programs and events which specifically and directly involve young people. The implemented programs provide information about sexual and reproductive health and rights to engage, empower and mobilize young people to talk about the issues openly.

Moreover, Y-PEER is certainly a platform where you can develop yourself. The network does not confine you to the traditional methods of working; it has innovative ways of having people involved. Of course, with Y-PEER one can meet young people from around the globe, and thus linking to numerous opportunities of enhancing the potentialities within one.

What can young people do better to contribute to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)?

Young people are capable to do everything for achievement of SDGs. Their engagement is major to contribute to the achievement and implementation of the sustainable development goals. Sustainable development goals can only be achieved if young people seriously start the initiation to orient about the importance of sustainable development goals for their upcoming future generation showing enormous concern to it and acknowledging provision of sexual reproductive health and rights which definitely means having a better quality of life. So, the meaningful involvement of young people is crucial to the achievement of SDGs.  

What is one thing you would have done differently being a Y-PEER member?

One thing I would have done differently was to talk about the issues of young people on sexual and reproductive health and rights not only on the national level but on international level as well. So that, people from other communities will know, how to face barriers in their communities and to engage more young people. Those young people should be well aware about the present scenario on grass root level.

What would you suggest that young people should do to become successful?

Being a youth, I would definitely suggest young people to come out and voice out for the emerging issues they are facing in the community. It is true that young people often are inclined towards fun and entertainment, but at the same time, it is crucial to understand that it is our responsibilities to be well aware about what is going around and acquire skills.

We are the emerging faces in the future where we will have our own community where we would not have religious and cultural barriers if we act and come out and raise the voice of the voiceless. Otherwise we will still have the same communities with same perceptions and trends which will always restrict us to move forward with positive attitude.

So, in this backdrop I would like to suggest young people should work hard expecting nothing but the enormous amount of experience. This experience would definitely help them to be practical and think broadly about the next steps.

Meet and Greet our Y-PEERers

An interview with Anmar Khalid, a youth activist from Iraq, who has been involved in Y-PEER since 2009, and together with other young leaders initiated the process of establishing the Y-PEER network in his country 

“Y-PEER inspires you to inspire others.”

Can you describe your experience in Y-PEER, what challenges, barriers and successes have you faced during the period of being a Y-PEERer? How has Y-PEER influenced your life/career?

My first experience with Y-PEER was a peer education training workshop in 2009. Afterwards, my life took a different turn and this unique experience had a huge impact on my behavior, my personality and every aspect of my life. I was changing and evolving every day, and was always in the process of developing myself. I was one of the very first people in Iraq to receive a regional training and following that, together with my team, we initiated the process of founding the network in Iraq. This continued up until 2012 when we worked with experts from the American University in Beirut on a chain of workshops with the support from the UNFPA CO to create a training guide for the network in Iraq. We were successful and I took part in crafting the guide which tackled various issues that were especially important for the youth in Iraq. That same year, the Y-PEER international network and the UNFPA decided to start working on a structure for the national network in Iraq and I was appointed the focal point in charge and so attended the Y-PEER Global Advisory Board Meetings for the members of the network in different parts of the world.

I have been a part of leading initiatives for the youth in Iraq and organizing training workshops for the diverse youth in Iraq on peer education, in addition to training of trainers in peer education. Recently, a big part of the training activities was dedicated for the minorities and marginalized communities in Iraq including internally displaced people, refugees, and inhabitants of slum areas. As of now, I have been able to reach out and train more than 1500 young people from different parts of Iraq, in addition to refugees from Syria.

The biggest challenge we faced was founding the network in Iraq. Because of the dominance of youth and voluntary contribution in the network, young activists participating in its activities and running the network for the betterment of the youth, we were always in need of a more established and capable entity to embrace us and provide continuous support for the network. This was needed to preserve the sustainability of the activities and to create the network in the best possible form.

However, we were becoming more capable of combating and alleviating this challenge day by day because of the increased popularity and understanding of the concept and culture of volunteerism within the youth of the network, in addition to us gaining more experience with great support from the UNFPA . Moreover, our partners greatly increased in number and we became capable of expanding to everywhere in Iraq, and reach out to a notably bigger proportion of youth in the country. Currently, Y-PEER Iraq has become a part of who we are and, to me, it’s not a project, it’s a lifestyle. A positive and prosperous lifestyle!

What benefits does Y-PEER offer to young people?

Y-PEER with its variety of activities and trainings offers young individuals unique skills packed with a modification of behaviour for the better, in addition to enforcing their knowledge regarding relevant topics. Moreover, the Y-PEER agenda strives to render its beneficiaries different, effective and positive role models among their peers. The truth is Y-PEER is a new and exciting lifestyle that endorses all of the positive values that the network commits to from activism to positivity and others, and that gifts the youth it reaches out to with an adventurous method of loving and receiving love from others. At the end, Y-PEER is a celebration of youth's invaluable contribution to the growth and development of the community being a remarkable tool in team building and a influential factor in preparing a coherent, skilled and conscious generation of youth that is confident of its solidity and aware of its essence.

What can young people do better to contribute to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals?

Today, the youth are privileged with great opportunities that should be taken advantage of, in order to rise up with the community and work for its welfare and realize the Sustainable Development Goals. There is nothing in this world that is not relevant to the youth in one way or another, and from that context we have to embark on a new journey of taking part in the process of decision making within the large organizations of today to achieve the correct execution of these goals. We're here to think, to know ourselves better, and to become acquainted with the fact that we exist and that we have a message in this life; a message and a mission to create a healthy and a positive life that the future generations can prosper from. The opportunity lies in front of us, and there's no other way but to seize it and enroll in today's battle and contribute to the design of the policies adopted for the establishment of peace and equality.

What is one thing you would have done differently being a Y-PEER member?

A man is successful when he allows his idea to be shared with others, endorsed by them, and incorporated in their behaviour.  Y-PEER pushes you to become the kind of person who contemplates the needs of others more often than his own, always wanting to give something back, something real and tangible that can leave a trace that the community can benefit from. These are the secrets of Y-PEER, they cannot simply reveal themselves upon request; you have to live them in order to actually know them. Y-PEER inspires you to inspire others.

What would you suggest that young people should do to become successful?

I don't want to suggest something they already know. I just want to ask them to be themselves, to know themselves, to appreciate it, and to believe in their abilities. Inside each and everyone of us, there lies a pioneer, we just have to discover that essence. All of this comes granted with faith, determination, patience, willingness, and planning. In the end, we should all know and admit that none of us knows everything and nobody knows nothing. We all have something to give, and we all have something to take. People learn from people; people learn when they're together. And the secret lies in learning and exploring life. Live it and love it.

Meet and Greet our Y-PEERers

An interview with Ahmed Kashkoush, a youth activist from Egypt, who has been working in Y-PEER for almost 10 years

“I can even say I was against some issues, but after I joined the network through a pure coincidence, I changed a lot of my convictions. Now I am a consultant trainer who has been persuading many young people with these issues. We made Y-PEER a life style, not just some volunteer activities.”

Can you describe your experience in Y-PEER, what challenges, barriers and successes have you faced during the period of being a Y-PEERer? How has Y-PEER influenced your life/career? 

I have been with Y-PEER network since 2006, started as a peer educator, national trainer, Local Focal point, Focal Point, advanced trainer, Focal Point in Charge (FPC) and finally Alumni board. I have been there while Y-PEER Egypt was growing widely to involve many activities and to include many organizations.

I participated in a lot of activities with the network, gave the most of the national Trainings of Trainers (TOTs) and some regional trainings and prepared some peer education manuals. Also I represent the national network in various events on national and international level.

Yes, the main challenge for us when we started the network in Egypt was about how we could convince youth organizations or working with youth with our new idea. The problem was how we can convince them that those games were not just for fun. We did a lot effort over the first 5 years in order to prove we can contribute to the youth development by our provided techniques. At first we got a lot of mockery when wanted to change something, but now we are a huge network in Egypt. Y-PEER Egypt is the most trusted reference in peer education techniques and an important partner when some organizations want to prepare youth manuals or activities.

On the personal level, I did not expect to join this field and you may be surprised to know that I was not convinced with many of the issues addressed by the network. I can even say I was against some issues, but after I joined the network through a pure coincidence, I changed a lot of my convictions. Now I am a consultant trainer who has been persuading many young people with these issues. We made Y-PEER a life style, not just some volunteer activities. I can say Y-PEER helped me build my character and sculpture a sense of responsibility towards the development in my country and my community life.

What benefits does Y-PEER offer to young people?

The most intriguing characteristic of the network is the idea of “Peer Infection” which means that when anyone sees Y-PEER members, the appreciation and admiration they acquire from such meeting would drive them to join our network to help others. Or the very least influence them in a way that would instigate them to develop themselves and their surroundings, especially with the encouragement and support of a strong influential network such as Y-PEER. 

Secondly, the network gives the youth a big space to join volunteer work and connects youth with the organizations which are looking for them. This idea contributes to the development and capacity building of youth. Anyone who takes a look at the network will see it as an academy which works on the preparation of new generations excited about joining the development field, starting from us who joined the work field in NGOs to others working in the several UN agencies and the other international organizations and the rest that has gained the skills to be qualified in every different area in the society. Moreover, the structure and the work mechanism of the network give us a real environment to apply the concept of good leadership.  

What can young people do better to contribute to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)?

Young people are the biggest power that can achieve sustainable development goals and they are the first beneficiaries of this achievement. 

On the decision making level, I believe that young people can do better whenever they are empowered by placing them in positions of responsibility and whenever new appropriate mechanisms emerge. Also on the implementation level, young people have common dialogue and understanding with a wide range of communities they live in. Plus, they have good intuition regarding approaching their societies in a suited form. And because they benefit the most from SDGs, they are able to evaluate and monitor the achievement of these goals. Young people just need leaders who can understand them and their needs and put them on the right track. By doing so, they will be motivated to achieve those goals with an unstoppable power.

What is one thing you would have done differently being a Y-PEER member?

I think the one thing I would have done differently is to prepare a strategy of sustainability. This is my only concern regarding the affairs of the network. Our network has been standing for more than ten years since it was established in 2004 and up till now we still depend on fundraising to support our partners. 

I think we could achieve sustainable partnership through deciding on the level of contribution each group of organizations. The contribution should depend on their capabilities, level and size. If I can turn back the time, I would definitely have a plan for that from the very beginning when I joined the core team.

What would you suggest that young people should do to become successful?

Do not live without goals and do not blame others for your faults, you should know that failure in something can be a step towards success in another thing. If you just realise this very well and come up with learned lessons, you will achieve your goals. I also see the key for success is the positive energy;  try to get it all the time and kick the negative one. If you do this you will get the power and patience to do some change, and don’t rush results, start with simple goals and try to achieve it step by step.

Meet and Greet our Y-PEERers

An interview with Mustafa Mohammed Al-Sufi, a youth activist from Yemen, who has been working in Y-PEER for the past 5 years, changing many young people’s attitudes regarding sexual and reproductive health issues.

Can you describe your experience in Y-PEER, what challenges, barriers and successes have you faced during the period of being a Y-PEERer? How has Y-PEER influenced your life/career?   

My first step in Y-PEER was in 2010 when I participated in a training hold by Y-PEER and UNFPA in Yemen. My life has changed completely when I joined the orange family. I became more interested in SRHR and how this issue does affect many young people not locally but regionally and internationally.

Y-PEER is not one mile but thousands and thousands of miles and for sure somebody will face different challenges within the community. One of the challenges that I faced is the sensitivity of the issues that we are talking about, because sexual health is not an easy issue that we can talk in Yemen. LGBT is a taboo topic and a red line and no one would like to break it. Even gender equality is an issue that the community refuses because of the cultural and religious background.

Success comes along with challenges and it has a different test when you can achieve something that you thought it’s inapplicable or achievable. I and other Y-PEERers conducted many trainings and advocacy campaigns for gender equality, FGMs (Female Genital Mutilation), early marriage and sexual health for adults. Gradually, I could change some of the wrong concepts regarding early marriage, FGM, sexual health as well as LGBT rights but in limited spaces. What we have in our communities needs time to be changed, so I am patient enough and take serious steps to change the wrong concept in my community as much as I can.

Y-PEER has influenced me greatly. From a peer educator to a focal point and a national focal point, I built great steps in my personal and career life. I became more responsible to my community and people. I learnt a lot about small things that can make big achievements in the society. I learnt how to be professional in my work and not to work for my own benefit, but for others as well. Indeed, Y-PEER is a life style.

  What benefits does Y-PEER offer to young people?

Y-PEER offers young people unique opportunities to develop themselves, build wide networks with different people from different backgrounds and to open many doors to be an advocate for critical issues, that the community faces; also to be an activist and fighter for human rights.

Y-PEER also gives wonderful local and regional trainings to build your capacities in different aspects of life, such as: Training of Trainers (TOT), Project Development and Management (PDM) and Theatre Based Techniques (TBT). Also, it’s an amazing platform for different young people to network with each other and move their issues forward. Therefore, if you are a Y-PEERer, probably you will have the chance to participate in different conferences and workshops which are supported by UNFPA. So that, you can represent your country in stakeholders meetings and high level panels.

What can young people do better to contribute to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)?

Forty-three percent of the world’s population is currently under 25 and the number of young people is rising fastest in those parts of the world with the lowest economic growth.  Today’s youth are more connected and tuned in to the world than any generation before. They are growing up fast, in a world that is changing even faster. Fortunately for all of us, young people see the challenges before them in fresh ways and are responding with enthusiasm and imagination. With the right investments, young people everywhere can reach their full potential as individuals, leaders and agents of progress. They have the potential to transform the social and economic fortunes of their communities, particularly in least developed countries. The world clearly needs their energy, their participation and their skills.

For better contribution to the achievement of the SDGs, young people should be part of the negotiations, on local level or international level, also to take part in the decision making process. They should work hard and intelligently to reach their voice to policy makers and stakeholders and prove themselves that they are part of the solutions, not problems. Also, to act wise in order to be part of the SDGs and to lead the process of thei achievement.   

What is one thing you would have done differently being a Y-PEER member?

Actually, I would work more with vulnerable people and bring their voices to policy makers in my country.

What would you suggest that young people should do to become successful?

Young people are the leaders of the present and kings of the future. If we want to see successful young people in our communities, they should focus on two things, it’s like wings and if one of them is missed then the other does not have a meaning. The first one is a Vision, everyone should have a vision to know which place would like to be in; and the second thing is a roadmap, if you don’t have a roadmap you will not be able to reach the place that you want.