Young people - our audience

In Moldova the economical and political transition has affected youth reproductive and sexual health as much as economic and politics. Continuing economic difficulties and rising of unemployment mean that many young people are left idle.

There is scant provision of contraception and information about sexual and reproductive health, resulting in a high incidence of unwanted pregnancy and abortion as well as sexually transmitted infections among youth. The FPAM started the activity focusing on the needs of young people in the end of 1996. As an adults and professionals we understand that for young people who do not protect themselves from the risk of unintended pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases, the consequences can be very serious.

Training courses

Since December 1996 we have started the preparation of peer educators by the providing of training courses with inviting of high-level professionals from the IPPF and UNFPA. The main idea of the courses is to promote youth for youth education: to rise the knowledge of young people about contraception, sexual and reproductive health, to spread the idea that early exposure to unprotected intercourse puts the health of young adults at higher risk.

Round tables Within the framework of Family Planning Weeks in 1996 and in 1997 FPAM's young volunteers have organized the round table meeting on prevention of unplanned pregnancy with young people from the secondary schools and other educational institutions. The different international organizations like UNFPA, IPPF, UNICEF and J. Hopkins University have rendered support in conducting such activities.

Volunteers of FPAM provide technical support in organizing with the municipal Youth Department the meeting and round tables with youth across the Municipality Chisinau. Throughout two years of existing of youth programmes in family planning issue, the FPAM has led initiatives and joined alliances to help young people make informed decision about, and to enjoy, their sexuality whilst avoiding unplanned pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases.

Juventa

In December 2000, FPAM has started the Youth Friendly Clinic "Juventa" project, which is addressed towards enhancing the RSH status of young adults. Since starting of its activities more than 1400 young people have received the aid on behalf of Youth Friendly Clinic "Juventa" medical and psychological staff.

Iubire.md

The most recent project is the current web site www.iubire.md, which has following sections: sex and your health, family planning, pregnancy, birth, breastfeeding and newborn. It also contains pages for men and fathers and legal articles. The web site will be built in two local languages: Romanian and Russian. The web site also offers on-line counseling and forum part, which allows people to communicate with each other and share their experiences on abovementioned topics.

In Moldova the internet is primarily used by young people. Nearly half of all internet users (40% of 100,000 people in 2001) are aged from 16 to 25 years. This is also our main target group. As well, even younger people (up to 15 years old) are also active internet users forming 20% of all users. They will also be part of an evolving target group. Although access to the web is increasing rapidly throughout the country through various programs, it is most likely that for the first years the target audience will be youth, students and young professionals in Chisinau and other urban centres.