Y-PEER in Action

By: Irina Druta, Y-PEER Focal Point and SPFM Volunteer

This year Y-PEER Network organized a video contest under the title Y-PEER in Action. It was meant for the members of the network to demonstrate their creativity while featuring the actions Y-PEER is undertaking in their countries to promote healthy behavior, raise awareness about STIs including HIV/AIDS, and motivate young people to get involved.

In the first round the committee received 24 scenarios from 12 countries: Algeria (1), Romania (2), Morocco (1), Russia (4), Serbia (2), Jordan (1), Moldova (3), Tajikistan (1), Kosovo (1), Bulgaria (1), Macedonia (6), and Kyrgyzstan (1). And only 8 scenarios were selected one of them was Y-PEER Moldova’s.

Our team was selected from among those 15 peer educators trained in using social theatre as a method in peer education. The team was helped by several professionals during the creation of the video. We also had a role in the video for Nicu Tarna – the ambassador of the Y-PEER Moldova Network and singer in “Gindul Mitei”. The movie was recorded on 14 October, 2007 in the place called Orheiul Vechi. The result of the work was sent to New York and the results were announced in the Y-PEER Advisory Board 2007 Meeting, where I was representing Y-PEER Moldova.

The winners were as follows:

• I - Russia
• II - Romania
• III - Bulgaria

Below you can see the prizes that the winners had:

First prize: VIP passes and paid airfare + DSA to attend the 2008 MTV Video Music Awards in USA.

Second prize: Organized study tour of MTV Studios in London, UK.

Third prize: Special guest invitations for participation in the 2008 Y-PEER Global Advisory Board in New York City.

I must tell you that even if Moldova’s video did not win the contest we are still proud of the fact that we participated. It gave us so much useful experience in this field, we all learned how to do it, and we are eager to apply for this kind of contests in the future. It was so much fun!!!

If you are interested to see all the videos that participated then I would advise you to click here