|
Blogs |
|
|
 |
Jan 8th, 2008 - 19:23:10 |
Caitlin
Hi everyone,
Now that we have received funding, we are able to develop the network in ways that we couldn't before. We now have 2 coordinators, myself and Kyla Zanardi, working full-time and part-time, which is great.
And we are now able to establish an International Working Group to shape and plan the network. The application is posted in the documents section.
This is really exciting for us, because it means that we can work more closely with other young people from around the world, and truly make this a project that is relevant to the needs and experiences of young people globally.
It's challenging work, because the issues we face as young people are so varied, as are the reasons for using drugs and the drugs that we use... which is why the work of the IWG is so important. We hope that you will consider applying. The deadline is Friday, January 25th.
If you don't feel as though you can commit to the time involved in the IWG, email anyway to see if there are other ways your input can be included.
Thanks and looking forward to hearing from you,
Caitlin
Jul 7th, 2007 - 10:00:19 |
Caitlin
Reflections on Youth Participation at the 18th IHRA Conference, Warsaw Poland:
We announced the formation of an international harm reduction network for youth at the Vancouver 2006 IHRA conference, at the end of our youth panel. Coordination for the different elements started around mid-September. The IHRA conference coordinating committee asked the working group to create a youth panel, and we decided to plan a youth satellite meeting to try to get more young people to have a presence at the conference in Warsaw, and to help shape the developing network.
International coordinating is not easy, and the few of us that were working to plan the various different elements had never worked together before. I can’t speak for others, but my expectations were definitely high, as they are always are when given an opportunity to “prove” something. In this case, we were given an opportunity to have greater youth visibility and voice at the conference, and to have planning meeting (the satellite).
As someone who is deeply committed to the inclusion of young people in the decisions, programs and policies that impact their lives, this opportunity meant a lot to me. There are many, many reasons why young people are excluded from harm reduction (both from policies and programs) and I hope this forum and network will be an opportunity to explore some of this reasons and to come up with strategies to overcome the barriers.
Now, nearly a month since I arrived in Warsaw, I feel as though we accomplished the beginnings of a great foundation for the youth network. The youth satellite, the follow up meeting, the youth panel and presentations on the opening and closing nights, and all of the conversations in between were so insightful and helpful. It was amazing to meet other young people committed to harm reduction from around the world, to hear their challenges and hopes, why they do this work and what would help them do it better.
I hope that the momentum continues. I hope that we can continue the conversations and networking that was started and that we can work together to develop a network that works to serve the needs of young people working and living harm reduction, to advocate and develop services and training where it’s needed, and to make sure that the voices of young people are represented and heard at the policy level around the world. And the network must reach others who do not have access to computers, who won’t receive these emails. Therefore we can work together to developing effective strategies for outreach.
Please contribute your thoughts to this site. The developing youth network needs you, needs all of us, to actively be a part of its creation.
If you were at the conference in Warsaw, let us know that the experience was like for you. If you have questions about harm reduction – ask them! Contribute your thoughts on the definition of harm reduction and how it relates to young people. And don’t forget… we need a name! So, check out the wiki’s and blogs about these topics, or start your own!
Jun 3rd, 2007 - 02:03:25 |
Caitlin
Hello everyone!
For those of you who travelled to the 18th International Conference on Drug Related Harm... I hope you had safe travels home! We will be posting the notes from the satellite meeting and follow up meetings soon. Check out some of the pictures that are already uploaded, and more of those to come as well!
We would love to hear your thoughts and reflections on the youth meetings, the conference in general, as well as your thoughts on harm reduction as it relates to young people.
And don't forget... we're looking for a new name!!
Feel free to start a discussion or blog about information, thoughts or questions regarding harm reduction and young people.
Stay tuned for more soon, and we look forward to hearing from you!
Apr 25th, 2007 - 15:20:25 |
Joya Banerjee
Dear Friends,
If you are attending the upcoming 18th International Conference on
Drug-Related Harm in Warsaw, Poland (May 13-17, 2007), we hope that you will be able to
take part in a Satellite Session for the International Youth Network
for Harm Reduction.
The satellite session, ""Coming of Age: The Development of an
International Youth Network for Harm Reduction" will examine the
special issues young people face in regard to harm reduction, and will
formalize the new youth network first initiated at the Vancouver
Conference.
Date: Sunday, May 13th, 2007
Time: 9:00am- 3:30pm
Place: Topaz Room, in the Gromada Conference Centre
This is the first meeting of its kind and one of the main goals is to
begin the formation of an International Youth Network for Harm
Reduction. The network is a new initiative that seeks to build the
capacity of young people addressing drug-related harm in their
countries. Given the growing rates of HIV infection among young people
due to injecting drug use, and the multiple other harms, risks and
barriers youth face with regards to drug-related harms (including
alcohol) we hope to engage young people into the decision-making
process in order to develop interventions that will be effective for
our peer groups.
For this reason, we are looking for young people who already have
experience in harm reduction and drug policy to participate and to
help shape the vision, goals and priorities of the network, from a
global perspective.
This invitation is for people already attending
the conference; unfortunately we cannot offer funding/ scholarships at
this late stage.
If you know or are someone who is interested, please join the network
by visiting http://projects.takingitglobal.org/harmreduction
or write to Caitlin Padgett.
The International Youth Network for Harm Reduction is spearheaded by
UNICEF, Canadian Youth Network for Harm Reduction, IHRA, and the
Global Youth Coalition on HIV/AIDS.
Page:
1
(Total Blogs: 4)
 feed
|
 |
 |
 |
|
Menu
