On July 17 and 18, stakeholders in the JADES (Jeunes et Adolescents en Santé, or Healthy Youth and Adolescents) project gathered in Niamey. This project has been running in Niger since March 2016, led by Solthis and Lafia Matassa, with technical support from Equipop. During two days of intense discussions, participants were able to use the Equipop Lab method to brainstorm new activities that are relevant and effective for young people's health.
Two fruitful years of activity and already many visible changes
After two years, this meeting enabled young peer educators, parents, teachers, health workers, representatives of associations, and ministries to take stock of the project's progress. Beyond the large number of communication tools produced (family planning kits, high-quality sketches, banners, etc.), it was above all the important awareness-raising and training work carried out that was at the center of the discussions. Thanks to the actions carried out with young people, technical staff, traditional leaders, and parents, the discussions focused on the awareness-raising and training work carried out. Thanks to the actions carried out with young people, technical staff, traditional leaders, and parents, the discussions focused on the awareness-raising and training work carried out. Thanks to the actions carried out with young people, technical staff, traditional leaders, and parents, the discussions focused on the awareness-raising and training work carried out. Thanks to the actions carried out with young people, technical staff, traditional leaders, and parents, the discussions focused on the awareness-raising and training work carried out. Thanks to the actions carried out with young people, technical staff, traditional leaders, and parents, the discussions focused on the awareness-raising and training work carried out. Thanks to the actions carried out with young people, technical staff etc.), it was above all the important awareness-raising and training work that was at the center of the discussions. Thanks to the actions carried out with young people, technical staff, traditional leaders, and parents of students, they have observed a generally more favorable environment for the sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) of young people.
[blockquote text="Before, when we first started giving talks at schools, we were turned away or there was no one there. We persisted, we persisted, and now they (the teachers) come to us to ask us to come and talk to the students. Soraya Siradji, Maradi." quote_icon_color="#f7461c" text_color="#b3ada9" border_color="#f7461c"]
Design thinking at the service of designing new innovative activities
In order to find innovative activities that complement those of the project, the methodology of Equipop Lab methodology was adapted and used during the workshop. With the support of Equipop, participants reflected on several themes: improving parent-teacher dialogue, promoting SRHR among young people in non-formal schools, improving the disclosure of HIV status by parents of HIV-positive children, etc. For each of the issues addressed, participants defined possible activities, which they then developed and tested using the design thinking method. The most relevant and feasible actions in the short or medium term were selected for implementation by the end of the project, such as the implementation of interventions and awareness-raising activities at back-to-school parent-teacher meetings. Other activities were proposed as part of a request for a new phase of the project.
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Essential dialogue between project stakeholders
These two days of workshops therefore enabled the definition of relevant activities, which the various groups involved in the project were able to take on board. In a context marked by taboos surrounding young people's sexuality, it is necessary to combine awareness-raising and social and political mobilization activities with purely medical activities. Furthermore, bringing together trained individuals from diverse backgrounds to take the time to develop a common approach is essential for ensuring that activities are appropriate and sustainable. This requires training project stakeholders and creating open spaces for dialogue, such as those provided by Equipop Lab.
