Ashgabat, 31 August 2010 – A series of Y-PEER trainings were successfully held in Turkmenistan this month, supported by UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund.  A four day Y-PEER Summer Camp was organized in collaboration with the Youth Union of Turkmenistan and Health Information Center from 10 until 13 August 2010, in Ashgabat.  Concurrently, two training in Dashoguz were held back-to-back from 10 until 19 August 2010.  

More than 65 young people from the capital and five velayats were trained on the main principles of peer education to become the members of the Y-PEER Youth Network of Turkmenistan and to deliver peer education training programmes in their region.  The trainings were conducted by medical specialists and Y-PEER master trainers, who took part in the national Training for Trainers (TOT) and Theatre-Based Peer Education (TBPE) trainings, conducted by the international trainer in June in Ashgabat.

The main goal of the events was to promote youth participation, build capacities and increase their awareness in the issues of adolescent reproductive health and HIV/AIDS/STI prevention.  The activities and presentations included the topics of gender equality, HIV/AIDS/STI, drug abuse, family planning and other issues related to healthy lifestyle. 

UNFPA recognizes peer to peer education as one of the key technical methodologies for preventing social problems among young people.  It is based on the premise that the youth are more inclined to discuss adolescent reproductive health issues with their peers than with parents or other adults.  Formalizing and focusing these conversations on safer behavior can empower youths to protect themselves. 

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UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund, is an international development agency that promotes the right of every woman, man and child to enjoy a life of health and equal opportunity. UNFPA supports countries in using population data for policies and programmes to reduce poverty and to ensure that every pregnancy is wanted, every birth is safe, every young person is free of HIV/AIDS, and every girl and woman is treated with dignity and respect.

UNFPA – because everyone counts.

For additional information, please contact
Aram Ibragimov, This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
Tel: 425250
Web: turkmenistan.unfpa.org