Sexual and Reproductive Health Training Manual for Young People

Published by the German Foundation for World Population (DSW), the Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health Training Manual is designed to be a tool for intensive peer learning and training activities conducted as part of the "Youth-to-Youth" (Y2Y) programme initiated by DSW. The Y2Y programme aims to improve the sexual and reproductive health of young people by young people. According to the organisers, Y2Y is built on the principles of active participation, gender equity, and respect of local cultural, traditional, and religious values, working with existing resources and flexibility. First launched in Ethiopia in 1999, this training material focuses on participatory facilitation methods and techniques that can be employed for training situations dealing with sexual and reproductive health issues.

The manual has been developed for use at three levels. A small group of young people with interpersonal communication abilities should be selected and trained intensively as core facilitators using the manual. Core facilitators in turn should then train peer educator trainers appointed from different youth clubs at local level. The clubs can then train their own peer educators locally at their convenience. The peer educators are expected to use the essence of the manual to facilitate the peer learning groups at the grassroots level of the clubs concerned.

The manual includes ten uits, which should be covered in about seven days, depending on the level of education and experience of the participants. Each unit consists of information on sexual and reproductive health issues of and for young people and guidelines on the participatory learning process, including methods, techniques, activities, and exercise guides.