Federation of Family Planning Association (FFPAM), Malaysia 

OBJECTIVE

Its objectives are to promote Family Life Education (FLE) and youth clubs, and allow young people to gain greater information on RH.

BACKGROUND

The FFPAM is geared towards catering services pro-actively for youth since 1974 with the initiation of Family Life Education (FLE) programme. 

Noting that by 2000, the young of ages 10-24 in Malaysia is expected to reach 6.6 million (i.e about 30% of total 22 million population) and the fact that the rapid pace of development and urbanization in Malaysia has led to changes in lifestyles, family structure and moral/ethical values, the challenges of taking up ARH was further reaffirmed. 

To adequately address ARH, FFPAM strive to further strengthen and introduce innovations to enhance its out-reach programmes to young people. The Federation and 9 of its State Family Planning Associations (FPAs) had inaugurated the idea of Youth Service Centre to furnish the young people with the opportunity to learn to be in charge of their youthful lives. To achieve this, 3 FPAs Youth Centre were identified to be the Service Model for the delivery of Reproductive Health Care to Adolescents. One of the options explored in the Service Model includes accommodating to the need for ARH information through a network accessible all over the globe, the Internet. The Net plays a crucial role in the new information age by having accurate and easily available information to enlighten young people dilemmas.
 

SCOPE 

The Service Model for the delivery of Reproductive Health Care to Adolescents concentrates on Promotive, Preventive and Curative measures.
 

MAIN ACTIVITIES 

Website on FFPAM Youth Centre was constructed to explore the potential of cyber-power in assisting  communication and information dissemination to and with the young audience specifically and generally the broad mass public. 

In ARH Service Model dotcom - Malaysia, the young people themselves are directly involved at all levels of development – from location and presentation of sites, planning of website contents, types of services, implementation of activities, evaluation and sustaining the Service Model. 

Many of our youth peer educators, volunteers and members help to update the FPAs youth website and moderate the FAQ (frequently asked question) page. Besides, they also created bulletin boards, e-groups and chat-room to encourage more active and extensive youth participation. 

To date, FFPAM had conducted 2 Workshops on Homepage/Website Development to expose youth to navigate programme, impart messages on responsible internet usage and to develop framework for the youth websites. 

EVALUATION FINDINGS 

The findings revealed that most youth are very knowledgable, informed, mature and responsible. They have also made significant contribution in mobilizing other youths to join FPAs youth club, intensifying youth involvement, speaking up assertively on issues related to ARH and a couple of them had participated at international arena. 

Another advantage of using technology in sexuality education is the mobility of  young people. As they move on to further their education or career advancement, they stay intact and remain reachable within this little square known as ‘computer monitor’ in the global village.

MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES 

Strategy

• Used information technology (IT) to reach out to IT users among the youth 

• Direct involvement of young people themselves at all levels of development 

Capacity Building

The youths involved were not only empowered but they have also made significant contribution in mobilizing other youths to join FPAs activities and  participate in other leadership role in the international arena. 
 

Mobilizing Resources 

Empower youths to take charge of their lives through SRH knowledge and information gained via IT
 

Managerial Leadership

• Equip current Service Model with technology that provides interaction channels between service providers and beneficiaries. 

• Coordination of youth peer educators, volunteers and members to assist in updating of the youth website and moderate the FAQ (frequently asked question) page.