SERAC-Bangladesh arranged Youth Thinkers Campus with the support of RHRN Bangladesh platform in ASA University on June 26th at 10 am to 2 pm with the presence of Government officials Zakia Akter, Deputy Program Director, logistics unit of DGFP, Vice-Chancellor- Professor Dr. Dalem Ch.Barman of ASA University and the 40 university youths to undertake concerted effort to seek public support specially focused on Young people’s engagement.
The goal of the event was emphasizing on making scope to build a relationship with the youth advocates or to be youth advocates and government-UN officials and make the platform more meaningful and participatory. The event covered discussion around youth health issues and rights on Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) information and access to Youth Friendly Services (YFS). By this event, we aimed to create a space for university youths to learn, exchange, and build strong networking and communication that makes a youth-adult partnership between them and the decision makers.
Zakia Akter, Deputy Program Director, DGFP gave more emphasis on the health condition of urban people. Because we are conscious about rural people. But somewhat or somehow we are avoiding a great portion of urban youth unconsciously which is really very harmful for our future. She also added that DGFP materials and even National adolescent strategy can be shared and promoted in SERAC-Bangladesh and RHRN Bangladesh platform pages to aware youth more and more.
Vice-Chancellor- Professor Dr. Dalem Ch.Barman of ASA University stated that there is a huge difference between 1977 and 2019 contraception and family planning method and information. He worked in FP sector where people were shy and unconscious to get information. But things are now changing. Now the youth are too conscious to take and spread the information to empower the world. He also added that “don’t go alone and empty hand, take with a lot.”
Shwe Nue Ching, intern RHSTEP urged to the government officials that, youth-friendly services must be ensured to the youth by making space to get proper and actual information from the experts and access to Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) information.
Ritu Chowdhury, student of ASA University wanted to know about the facilities of youth-friendly corners and location of youth-friendly corners. She also added that to get the location of YFS centers, the government can take initiative to put the YFS centers location in the Google map.
Nazmul Hasan remarked that the timing of YFS corners must be extended to think about adolescents. Because it is not possible for them to visit those centers in school time.
Youth Friendly Services are able to effectively attract young people, meet their needs comfortable and responsively and succeed in retaining young clients for continuing care. The meeting was moderated by SERAC-Bangladesh program officer Tasnia Ahmed, in presence of Assistant Director (program) Abdul Wadud, Finance & Admin Officer Md. Shohrab Hossain, Dhaka Divisional Coordinator Nazmul Hossain Oscar, Nahidul Islam and many others.
