International Citizen Service (ICS) 2 youth

Overall goals

I was a team leader for a group of 18-25-year-old volunteers from the UK and Bangladesh. The project focused on three distinct areas; sexual and reproductive health, vocational training and youth participation in the local government.

Short-term goals of the project:

Increased awareness of government officials of their roles and responsibilities and the importance of including youth in decision-making process

Increased knowledge and skills of youth to develop business / self-employment

Increased knowledge and skills of youth to identify and advocate for sexual reproductive health (SRH) issues

Long term:

Improved and more responsive SRH services for young people and women.

Increased skills and capacity of government and service providing organization officials to provide responsive livelihoods and SRH services

Improved and more responsive livelihoods services for young people and women

These were set by VSO Bangladesh and had targets to achieve during the whole project.

Key UK Colleagues and Partners

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde,
International Citizens Service and Voluntary Services Overseas.
A nine-month career break from NHS GG&C was granted.

International Partners

VSO Bangladesh, NGO Renaissance

Sustainable development goals

• SDG 1 - No poverty
• SDG 3 - Good health and well-being
• SDG 4 - Quality education
• SDG 8 - Decent work and economic growth
• SDG 9 - Industry, innovation and infrastructure
• SDG 10 - Reduced inequalities
• SDG 16 - Peace, justice and strong institutions

Funding source

Individual fundraising and Department for International Development

Project origin

Unsure partnership and general project was already developed.

Evidence of need

Partnership and general project were already developed.

Project areas

Youth/Community Development

Project activities

Over the two cycles of the project, we delivered 122 hours of training to our peer educators on sexual and reproductive health and governance. We completed a needs assessment and evaluation of the project. Organised and delivered 86 hours of awareness rising on a number of topics important to the local community, five large-scale events. We delivered and organised 500 hours of vocational training. We also developed and purchased a number of resources for our peer educators and youth club members.

In relation to the above long- and short-term goals we achieved:

• 51% of all people surveyed and 71% of women attending community SRH clinics
• 87% satisfaction in SRH services and 43% in Livelihoods
• 32% of people accessing livelihood services
• Improved local government awareness of youth club, with three prominent members planning to include YC representatives.
• Over two cycles 27 youth and women received direct support to develop a sustainable business
• Over 3000 people were given information on relevant SRH issues.

Out-with these goals our young volunteers developed to become more active citizens regarding global and local social issues.

Generally, the project achieved giving a large amount of people training, information and tools on important and relevant subjects. Therefore, enabling them to make informed choices, make positive changes in attitudes and behaviour and continue to develop. It is hoped that this will make a significant positive long-term difference to the community.

Changes

Short term goals of the project: Increased awareness of government officials of their roles and responsibilities and the importance of including youth in decision making process
Increased knowledge and skills of youth to develop business / self-employment Increased knowledge and skills of youth to identify and advocate for sexual reproductive health (srh) issues

Long term:

Improved and more responsive srh services for young people and women

Increased skills and capacity of government and service providing organization officials to provide responsive livelihoods and srh services

Improved and more responsive livelihoods services for young people and women

These were set by vso bangladesh and had targets to achieve during the whole project.

Next steps

A programme de-brief was written up which proposed what specific work needed to be continued by VSO Bangladesh to ensure people are able to continue to use the skills they have learnt through the project. I am no longer involved in the project now I have returned to my previous employment.

Challenges

N/A not directly linked with the NHS

Mitigating challenges

Given a 9 month sabbastical to complete placement

Project gains

• leadership
• teamwork
• resilience