Source: Stabroek News , 6th September, 2007

Youths in Sophia can now gain better access to information on sexual and reproductive health at the new Adolescent Youth Friendly Space located at the Sophia Primary School.

The space which was launched on August 28 is a collaborative effort of the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport and the United Nations Population Fund, the Government Information Agency (GINA) said in a release.

The launching ceremony was attended by Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport Dr. Frank Anthony, Director of Youth, Carl Brandon, representatives of the Volunteer Youth Corps and other supporting agencies.

Similar programmes were launched at Parika, East Bank Essequibo, Linden in Region Ten, and Beterverwagting in Region Four, in addition to Black Bush Polder, Port Mourant and Fyrish in Region Six.

Along with accessing vital information on sexual and reproductive health, the space will allow the youths to benefit from HIV/AIDS peer education which will enable them to become pioneers in the community, GINA stated.

Minister Anthony in his address noted that youths must be given opportunities to be educated and to freely discuss issues affecting them. He also said that a lack of information in this regard can lead to them making wrong life decisions.

Since October 2006 the Sophia Primary School was identified by the ministry to be the next venue for a youth friendly space. The Ministry of Education upon hearing about the initiative offered a classroom for the programme.

Youth officers of the ministry stationed in Sophia subsequently began mobilising resources and training youths on HIV/AIDS and sexual reproductive health, peer education, drug education, anger management, conflict resolutions and several other areas.

According to GINA, strong support was offered from the Volunteer Youth Corps and Help and Shelter in the training of the youths. The campaign also called for parents to give support.