Uy, 'Wag Ma-Awkward! (Hey, Don't be Awkward)
Philippines | CYAN | 2023
Mabuhay!
We are Center for Youth Advocacy and Networking (CYAN), a youth-led and youth-serving non-government organization based in Quezon City, National Capital Region, Philippines. We imagine a future where youth are important voices in important decisions and regulations in our nation.
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18 - 25 years old
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The Right-Sized Problem
It’s awkward to talk about sex even among friends and peers in the Philippines due to cultural and societal norms. Because of this, conversations on sexual reproductive health and rights don’t naturally happen, leading to issues like teenage pregnancy.
What did we do?
Removing awkwardness when discussing sex education needs creative, community-based solutions that fit younger children. After a 2-day brainstorming session, we came up with engaging and enjoyable activities for the adolescents in the Bagong Silang community in Caloocan City. To get a better sense of how the youth understand sexual reproductive health and rights, we facilitated seven focus group discussions. We got some very valuable insights from the 140+ participants who openly shared their experiences.
We gathered at least 30 mentors, affectionately called Ates and Kuyas (big sisters and big brothers), in a two-day workshop that helped prepare them before they interacted with the young children. Topics such as the idea of consent, how to handle sensitive conversations, and communicate from a place of love were discussed. We also educated them on adolescent sexual reproductive health and rights, including important laws like the Teenage Pregnancy Bill, to make sure that they’re only sharing accurate and fact-based information.
Following the training, our Ates and Kuyas held Peer to Peer Learning Sessions, which was an opportunity for them to build awareness among their younger counterparts. These sessions were filled with interactive games and fun activities that made it easier for the participants to remember facts about sexual reproductive health and rights. The event place, which was within the Bagong Silang community, was filled with youthful, vibrant energy that has certainly left a lasting impression on the adolescents involved.
To reach a wider audience outside of Caloocan City, we recorded short videos and shared them on our Facebook and TikTok pages.
Campaign Impact
Our campaign is strong proof that using community-based solutions can lead to long-term results. Through our efforts, we were able to create safe spaces where young adolescents can comfortably talk sex and other sensitive topics with their Ates and Kuyas without fear of judgment. The participants are even asking when we’ll hold the next set of sessions, showing a willingness to learn more about these subjects.
Our dedicated ‘trainers’, the Ates and Kuyas, were successful in the difficult task of educating adolescents on sexual health. Through comprehensive pre-tests and post-tests, we found out that 18 out of 20 Ates and Kuyas felt more confident talking about teenage pregnancy and other related topics to the younger kids. They make it enjoyable and fun to share information, inspiring future leaders to do the same for the next generation.
Impact in Numbers
At least 140 young adolescents joined our 7 focus group discussions
More than 25 Ates and Kuyas facilitated 3 peer-to-peer sessions with 40+ younger counterparts
20,000+ views and 500+ interactions on educational videos posted on Facebook and TikTok
Words from CYAN
“EVERY TIME I DO A PROJECT, I ALWAYS PUT MY HEART IN IT. ESPECIALLY NOW THAT I AM WORKING WITH KIDS AND WORKING WITH FELLOW YOUTH. IF YOU'RE GOING TO EDUCATE, YOU SHOULDN'T JUST GIVE INFORMATION. PUT YOUR HEART IN THE INFORMATION SO THEY WILL BE ABLE TO ABSORB IT.”
Celyn Merano
Assistant Project Coordinator
