Youth and Health Promotion Ukraine 

Youth for Health I - 1998 - 2002 

Project Description

The health of the Ukrainian population, and of young people in particular, is a cause for concern. A large percentage of youth - ordinary youth - are smoking, drinking, using drugs, and practicing unsafe sex. With so many young people putting their health at risk, steps must be taken to encourage young people to adopt attitudes and behaviors that will protect and promote healthy lifestyles. Hence, the Youth for Health Ukraine Canada project.

The Ukrainian government is committed to improving the health of children and youth and recently the degree of the President of Ukraine “Health of the Nation 2002-2011” was supported by the Cabinet of Ministers. Most importantly, there are chapters that recommend “creating conditions for health promotion” and the Youth for Health Ukraine Canada project is mentioned as one of the essential measures with key government agencies involvement.

The four year Youth for Health Ukraine Canada project was launched in 1998 funded by the Canadian International Development Agency and managed by the Canadian Society for International Health. The project was later extended until September 2002.

The overall project goal was to contribute to the development of a sustainable national health strategy in Ukraine by assisting in the development and implementation of health promoting policies and programs in support of youth.

The main objective of the YFH project was to facilitate the development of a multi-level, intersectoral health promotion for youth model which could be adapted to other parts of Ukraine. More specifically, the project sought to:

• empower youth to promote healthy living and engage in behaviours focusing on AIDS prevention, smoking cessation, and reduction of drug and alcohol abuse.

• increase the capacity of health promotion and youth delivery agents and the community to promote healthy living among youth.

The main activities of the project were:

• the development of an integrated health education curriculum for Grades 1-11 introduced into 18 Kyiv schools on a pilot basis.

• the development of a certificate course for people in the public sector who are in a position to influence health promotion among youth.

• the establishment of a YFH resource centre aimed at youth outside the school environment. (This involved youth themselves in designing and producing health promotion audio, video and print materials and producing interactive theatre and a speakers’ bureau.)

• evaluation of the health education curriculum and the resource centre

• three research studies: a survey of the life styles of Kyiv and national youth, a review of legislation on youth health and a study of the influence of mass media on youth.

Background

CSIH began working in Ukraine in 1993 with the successful Partners in Health project. The Partners in Health project was originally funded by Canada's Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade and later by the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) for $ 5 million, which included $2.2 million in the in-kind contributions. The goal was to contribute to capacity development of health sector organizations ranging from the ministry level to NGOs in health sector reform. The partnerships involved 19 groups in Canada and 20 in Ukraine. This project aroused interest in Azerbaijan, Georgia, Armenia, Russia and Croatia to work with CSIH and CIDA.
 

YFH Testimonials

http://www.acdi-cida.gc.ca/CIDAWEB/webcountry.nsf/vLUDocEn/12A0142CA4F205FB85256B6E006FBE53?OpenDocument

http://www.acdi-cida.gc.ca/cida_ind.nsf/vLUallDocByIDEn/A2D663B427557DD3852569E2005166A4?OpenDocument

http://www.acdi-cida.gc.ca/cida_ind.nsf/vLUallDocByIDEn/B5B9E7A6F83D459785256919004F0804?OpenDocument