IPPF South Asia Regional Youth Network (SARYN) is a youth led network run by IPPF youth volunteers in South Asia and is supported by IPPF South Asia Regional Office and its 8 Member Associations.  Young people are involved with the decision making process, planning, implementing, monitoring and evaluation.  

All the IPPF youth volunteers in Maldives, India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Bhutan, Afghanistan and Iran are members of this network.

The objectives of this meeting were to;

•  Develop country specific strategies and action plans to ensure youth leadership and participation from a youth development perspective
•   Develop personal action plans to take ownership for implementing country specific action plans.  

Here is a brief outlook of how each day progressed.

Day 1:

Brief introductions were given by participants representing their respective countries. Thereafter, in country groups, the “Journey so far” was discussed and strategies were realigned with the outcomes of the IPPF. A “Lens for leadership” was conducted, where the youth leadership building was enhanced and finally the existing strategies were “reworked” integrating the “Youth lens” in youth leadership development, country strategies and action plans.

Day 2:

Input on the country plan was shared by all teams and the final draft strategies were presented. Stories and stereotypes were shared with a personal action plan to implement the country strategies.

Day 3:

VALUES CLARIFICATION FOR ATTITUDE TRANSFORMATION (VCAT)

• The objectives of day three included a full day training about VCAT, goals , theoretical framework, methodology and tools.
• The characteristics of an effective VCAT facilitator was highlighted and a demonstration of an effective facilitation of VCAT activities and how to integrate VCAT for young people in the overall framework plan was also shared with the group.

A discussion and presentation on “What is Values Clarification Attitude transformation” was defined and the vulnerability and barriers faced by young people seeking services was also highlighted. A few group exercises involving case studies on the ‘Last Abortion’ and “Four Corners”, an activity which brought everyone together, as well as a group exercise on “Personal beliefs versus professional responsibilities” ended the day’s proceedings.