3rd National YPEER Meet (27-29 December, 2018)
With the objective of creating platforms for YPEER members to come together, share their concerns and learn from each other’s experiences, the 3rd National YPEER Meet has begun today at Jigme Wangchuck Power Training Institute in Dekiling, Sarpang. As usual, the 3-day Meet is designed to facilitate the exchange of new knowledge, ideas and experiences amongst the YPEER members and discuss challenges for future improvement. This activity was initiated in 2016 as part of the mandate of Youth Center Division, DYS, MoE to engage YPEER members and build their capacity to provide information/services related to Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights (SRHR). Since then, it has become an annual feature, bringing together hundreds of YPEER members every year.
YPEER Bhutan is a youth-led group set up in 2012 as part of the global network to promote Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights amongst young people through sensitization programs and provide SRHR-related information/services through peer-to-peer approach. Today, it has 16 Networks based in tertiary institutes/colleges. The National YPEER Meet serves as a platform for the members of those Networks to come together, update each other on the achievements/initiatives of their Networks and develop new strategies for further improvement.
The 3-day Meet that started today has 139 participants (68 male, 71 female) from 14 Networks (Royal Thimphu College, Faculty of Nursing and Public Health, Paro College of Education, Norbuling Rigter College, College of Natural Resources, College of Language and Cultural Studies, College of Zorig Chusum in Trashi Yangtse, Rangjung Technical Training Institute, Chumey Technical Training Institute, College of Science and Technology, Gaedu College of Business Studies, Jigme Namgyel Engineering College, Samtse College of Education and Sherubtse College).
After the welcome address and the presentation of the program overview, the members from each Network presented their key achievements and challenges. It was learnt that while the action plan for 2018 that was developed during the 2nd National YPEER Meet last year was successfully implemented, they highlighted some commonly faced challenges such as lack of commitment from some members, time constraints due to academic pressure, misconception about the mandates and functions of YPEER and poor visibility of YPEER Networks in the communities. The participants also explored opportunities for future improvement and discussed strategies for strengthening the Networks in their colleges/institutes.