Youth platform Y-Net launched in Bangladesh

Y-Net, a digital youth platform initiated by Jhpiego, officially launched on 15 December, 2019, in Bangladesh. Y-Net creates a virtual community for young people, aged between 10 and 24, to engage in issues related to their own health and well-being. The Y-Net community collaborates with existing national and international youth-led organisations to align, amplify, and advocate for issues affecting adolescents and youths. This platform links young people to trusted digital information and strengthens youth networks in Bangladesh, while extending their reach globally. Y-Net encourages building youth-led advocacy infrastructures. It challenges health systems and national leadership to make the needed changes to youth policies, programmes and investments.

Jhpiego organised a five-day Youth Advocacy Workshop from December 15 to 19 at Cox's Bazar. Approximately 35 youths participated in this workshop from different districts and cities. This workshop also involved national and international youth organisations, such as International Youth Alliance for Family Planning (IYAFP), Network for Ensuring Adolescent Reproductive Health, Rights and Services (NEARS), Bangladesh Youth Network (Y-Net), SERAC-Bangladesh, Bangladesh Medical Student Society (BMSS), RHStep, Rotaract Clubs, Shushilan-Active Citizens Platform, Medical Technologist Student Association (MTSA), and many others.

During the Youth Advocacy Workshop, the participants were thoroughly engaged in discussions about issues affecting their health and wellbeing. They actively discussed the barriers and co-created solutions through vision mapping exercises using a human-centered design approach. Through this interactive workshop, the participants prioritised issues such as Sexual Health & Reproductive Health Rights and Family Planning (SRHR-FP), Mental Health, Drug Abuse, Sexual Harassment and Climate Change. Y-Net and Jhpiego are committed to continue this networking initiative for engaging youths in addressing different issues and building the capacity of youths in advocacy in Bangladesh and beyond.  

For more details, please visit https://www.facebook.com/groups/ynetbangladesh/ and follow them on Twitter at @YNetBangladesh