The Youth Center Division of the Department of Youth and Sports, presented the Y-PEER Impact Assessment report to relevant stakeholders on 30th April, 2022. The impact assessment was conducted to study the relevance and effectiveness of Y-PEER initiatives in the country.
Y-PEER Bhutan was instituted in 2012 as part of the global network to promote Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) among young people. Y-PEER is, therefore, a network of young advocates specialized in the promotion of SRHR through a peer-to-peer approach. There are currently 19 Y-PEER Networks based in various Royal University of Bhutan colleges and Technical Training Institutes under the Ministry of Labour and Resources. Every year, these Networks conduct various advocacy and capacity-building programs for young people with support from Y-PEER Bhutan which is a platform set up under the purview of the Youth Center Division with national and regional focal points selected from among the members.
This impact assessment was initiated to better understand which Y-PEER initiatives and programs were relevant and effective for young people and which ones require a change of direction. The study was conducted through Bhutan Global Research, a local consultancy firm based in Thimphu.
The findings show that young people have significantly benefited from being part of the Y-PEER community in terms of boosting their self-confidence, developing leadership skills, decision-making abilities, and communication skills. More importantly, they have developed increased awareness of SRHR-related issues and that have become more open to share their views/concerns and support their peers in need. However, the responses from Non-YPEER members show that there is a need for the Y-PEER Networks to do more public advocacy programs to promote their initiatives and services among the general youth population. There is also a need to strengthen coordination amongst the concerned agencies to facilitate timely delivery of quality programs and services, and to facilitate the exchange of good practices and experiences among the Y-PEER Networks. These recommendations from the study would guide the future programs and services of Y-PEER Bhutan so that they become most relevant to the emerging SRHR needs of young people in the country.
The presentation of the report today was attended by the Vice Chancellor of RUB, Director General of DYS, MoE and officials from MoLHR, MoH, MoE and other relevant agencies. This study was supported by UNFPA.
Comments are closed