The Challenge

When the tsunami hit Aceh, the province had been in conflict for nearly 30 years. One consequence of the conflict and natural disaster was that the health needs of adolescents was placed low on the list of priorities as emergency responses and threats of disease outbreaks and environmental health issues took priority.

While most of the post-tsunami recovery efforts have focused on reconstruction, outreach to youth is an important and growing issue in Aceh. Adolescents are more likely than adults to engage in risky behaviors such as drug abuse, potential exposure to HIV/AIDS, drug abuse and alcohol, without being aware of the consequences of their actions to their health.  While rates of HIV/AIDS are relatively low in Indonesia, more inofrmation about how to prevent the disease is needed.

CARE’s response

The Adolescent Health Project project aims to establish adolescent health activities with an accompanying outreach service to reach young people and to also train educators and health workers in adolescent health issues. The goal of the project is to ensure that  Acehnese youth have access to health information and they are better equipped to deal with issues such as reproductive health, HIV/AIDS, smoking, substance abuse and identity.

FRIENDS: Adolescent health information centre

The core of the Adolescent Health Project is the creation of an adolescent health centre, called FRIENDS (Forum Informasi, Edukasi dan Kesehatan Remaja, or the Forum for Information, Education and Adolescent Health), to provide a dynamic forum for youth to access free health information and advice, counselling, peer support, and referral to other services within the community. FRIENDS works together with other organizations committed to helping young people build their awareness of health issues.

The FRIENDS centre houses an activities room, training centre and library, and provides free medical service and counselling with an on-staff doctor and therapist, and music and sports equipment to attract and encourage youths to participate. Many of the youth who visit the doctor and counsellor are orphans or from broken homes, and are struggling with issues such as drug or smoking addiction, sexually transmitted diseases, or troubles at home. In a safe, non-threatening environment, CARE staff help these youth develop healthy solutions to their problems.

Youth outreach

CARE recruited 10 Youth Outreach Workers from the local community to spread information amongst adolescents in Aceh, both about the services offered by FRIENDS, and about important health issues. The outreach workers, youths themselves, connect with young Acehnese through groups such as drag racers, skaters, break-dancers, ex-drug users, gays and lesbians, music bands, and athletes. Outreach workers approach youth in their own environment to advise them about the importance of taking care of their health by avoiding risky behaviours.    

Improving community awareness

CARE is targeting not just youth in our activities, but providing information to the larger community about adolescent health issues. CARE distributes information and education materials, supports adolescent activities in the community, and provides training for teachers and health providers on issues related to young people. For the wider public, CARE delivers health information through radio, exhibitions and trainings on issues such as reproductive health, HIV/AIDS, sexual health education, the dangers of drugs, gender issues, and sexually transmitted diseases.

By improving the access to health information for young people, we can help the next generation of Acehnese make healthy choices. Healthy, informed young people are the future leaders of Aceh, helping the province rebuild and move forward after the tsunami.

Sector : Health and nutrition
Location :  Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam, Banda Aceh district
Donor:  Nochbar in Nocht, Aktion Deutschland Hilft
Project period :  May 2007 to August 2008

Page last updated October 23, 2008