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Christian Conference of Asia
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Program Clusters: Special Programs:
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CCA-UN/ESCAP hold joint consultationThe Christian Conference of Asia and the UN/ESCAP convened a consultation on Life Skills Development and Planning for Health Promotion on 29 - 31March at the United Nations Conference Center in Bangkok. Attended by some 16 representatives from national counterpart organizations or NCOs in four target countries, the Consultation drew the direct involvement of stakeholders in the development of a new project profile for a five-year joint CCA/UNESCAP training program for youth. The full participation of project beneficiaries in the formulation of the project concept and initial planning is recognized as essential in enhancing the sense of ownership by the stakeholders themselves. The main output of the Consultation was a new project profile with log frame, titled �Strengthening Life Skills, Promoting Positive Health Behaviour Among Youth� which aims to reduce the threat to health of HIV/AIDS, drugs and violence among disadvantaged youth. It also hopes to result in a more effective planning of program by government and civil-society organizations for achieving health promotion, especially to address HIV/AIDS issues. The new project will focus on life-skills training, seen as an effective tool to empower young people to make informed and responsible decisions about their own well-being. It includes specific problem-solving skills like tackling peer pressure on drug use and negotiation for safe sex. According to the draft project profile, life skills education is recognized as a long-term strategy for reducing individual vulnerability to health and social risks by addressing the gap between knowledge, attitude and practice. In her orientation on life skills given on the first day of the Consultation, Ms. Cai Cai, Social Affairs Officer of the Health and Development Section, referred to the so-called ten generic life skills as defined by WHO: self-awareness, empathy, critical thinking, creative thinking, interpersonal relationships, effective communication, managing emotion, managing stress, decision-making and problem solving. The new project, which is expected to be implemented beginning November 2004, builds on the gains of the recently concluded joint project, �Strengthening National HRD Capabilities in Poverty Alleviation and Conflict Negotiation Skills among Youth� which was aimed primarily to strengthen the capacity of youth officers and trainers (both governmental and non-governmental) to address the needs of youth facing conflicts and to promote youth projects to reduce poverty and mitigate conflict. Participants from NCOs, mostly government ministries on youth and sports affairs, social welfare agencies and youth federations from Cambodia, Sri Lanka, Philippines and Xinjian Uygur Autonomous Region of China gave interesting country-team presentations on a situation analysis of their respective countries/regions on health risks that youth face. The reports generated a wealth of information necessary for enriching the project profile and filling up the logical framework. Briefings and orientation on logical framework, a planning matrix contained in a one-page summary of the project strategy including objectives, indicators, means of verification, assumptions (risks), was provided by Mr. Bernhard Barth, Social Affairs Officer also of the Health and Development Section. CCA Consultant and UN/ESCAP Non Reimbursable Loan Expert, Carmencita P. Karagdag, who completed her term with the termination of the previous project, introduced a brief document on �CCA�s Enduring Ecumenical Values�. In her introduction, she called on the participants to put greater attention on education for social change and the need for life-skills training to contribute not only to personal improvement and wellbeing, but also to positive community or social change. Meanwhile Dr. Lee Hong Jung, the CCA executive secretary, gave a brief but thought-provoking opening reflection. In her welcome speech which officially opened the meeting, Ms. Thelma Kay, chief of the Emerging Social Issues Division, recalled the long history of cooperation between the CCA and UN/ESCAP. Also gracing the three-day activity was Ms. San Yuenwah, chief, Heath and Development Section of the Emerging Social Issues Division. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Names of Country Team Participants CAMBODIA Mr. Vann Someth, Deputy Director-General General Department of Youth and Sports Mr. Chek Lim, Vice Chief of Planning Office General Department of Youth and Sports Mr. Kao Rith, Deputy-Director of Education, Youth and Sports Department of Education, Youth and Sports Ms. Chhuon Phallyka, Student Build Bright University CHINA Mr. Ni Mingjian, Assistant Director-General Disease Prevention and Control Centre of Xinjiang Mr. Zhong Ruxing, General Secretary Red Cross Association Mr. Adejiang, Deputy General Secretary Youth Federation of Xinjiang Ms. Gulinuer Sulaiman, Liaison Officer Foreign Affairs Office PHILIPPINES Ms. Ma. Melania B. Samonte, Social Welfare Officer III Social Technology Bureau Department of Social Welfare and Development Mr. Eduardo L. Guevarra, Social Welfare Officer III Department of Social Welfare and Development Fr. Fernando V. Peralta, Director Don Bosco Boys Home Vocational Training Center Mr. Roland M. Leopar, PYAP National President Pag-asa Youth Association of the Philippines SRI LANKA Mr. P. Maddugoda, Additional Secretary Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports Mr. W. A. Wijetunga, Deputy Director Peace Education Unit Ministry of Human Resource Development, Education and Cultural Affairs Ms. R. C. J. Livera, Project Coordinator Community Health Lanka Jathika Sarvodaya Shramadana Sangamaya Ms. M. M. Ponnamperuma, Youth Leader National Youth Services Council posted by Anonymous on Friday, April 23, 2004 |
