RTK - FR Yugoslavia Profile

Young people as a percentage of total population:
23% (age 10-24)

RTK INITIATIVE STATUS
Phase I: Planning for RTK -- Completed
Phase II: Participatory Action Research -- Initiated; to be completed upon receipt of funding
Phase III: Research development and Implementation of Communication Strategy -- To be initiated 2003

PURPOSE
The primary goal of Right to Know is to plan and implement adolescent communication strategies that provide adolescents (both in school and out of school) with information and lifeskills for the prevention of HIV/AIDS, and to ensure adolescent participation in all aspects of planning and implementation.

PRIORITY ACTIVITIES, 2002-2003:
Activities are based on PAR processes and principles in order that young people:

• Define their specific needs (information and life skills) related to prevention of HIV
• Create programmes and tools of communication
• Support rights of those already infected/affected by the virus
• Increase awareness of the community as well as decision-makers on this issue.

The focus is on helping young people, particularly those at high risk of HIV infection (those who do not have any access to information and those with risky behaviours) benefit from these activities.

PARTNERS AND LINKAGES

• Steering Committee that uses creative methodology and that is comprised of young people, UN, professionals, and representatives of different NGOs
• Youth NGOs: Youth of JAZAS and Youth of Red Cross
• Institute of Psychology as the collaborating research institution
• NGOs: Center for Drama in Education, Center for Development and Promotion of Human Relations, Friends of Children of Serbia

KEY ACCOMPLISHMENTS TO DATE

• Regional Training; Belgrade: 26-28 April 2002;
• Sub-Regional cross training in photography, FYR Macedonia
• National workshop on PAR organised by and for young people (July 16-18, 2002 in Deliblat-ska Pescara)
• Research on HIV information, behaviour and attitudes collected in 16 Belgrade municipalities by primary and secondary school children
• Ongoing – development of creative activities related to the "Ten Facts".

SOME OF THE EXPECTED OUTPUTS:

• Creative products and methods to respond to the needs/gaps and rights of young people identified by all stakeholders of PAR
• Hiring of an NGO “Roma Education Centre” to work with Roma youth in Phase II and III of RTK
• Development of creative interventions for participatory theatre and media projects wherein youth themselves will make small TV, radio, and print products on the topics of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) and Ten Facts.