Thinking Big in Asia and the Pacific
	Options for Life
	34 Million Friends
	Lauch of YouAct

Building Towards the Future is a large-scale governmental and non-governmental organization capacity-building initiative designed to help accelerate implementation of the ICPD Program of Action and achievement of the Millennium Development Goals in the Asia and Pacific Island Regions.

Program Overview
Executive Summary
Auckland Workshop Poster
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Nicaragua is the second poorest country after Haiti in Latin America and one of the most indebted countries in relative terms (US$6.2 billion, which is double its GNP). Its per capita income is the second lowest in the region (US$486 in 2001). Two thirds of the population is younger than 25. By the time girls reach the age of 19, nearly half of them have been pregnant. The majority of young people do not have access to basic health care and even fewer have access to sexual and reproductive health services; consequently, there has been an increase in HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted infections.

“Options for Life” is a nationwide youth health, education and employment initiative of the Nicaraguan Secretariat for Youth, UNFPA Nicaragua and Face to Face International in cooperation with numerous local NGOs.

The Options for Life program is unique in that it is the country’s first population assistance program that approaches the provision of the basic needs of youth (ages 14-24) in an integrated fashion. The objective of Options for Life is to improve the quality of life of the adolescents and young people of Nicaragua by increasing knowledge of population and development issues, improving access to sexual education and health services, and facilitating the development of life and vocational skills as well as opportunities for employment and recreation.

Options for Life consists of information, education and communications (IEC) projects, actual service provision, and advocacy initiatives designed to work in support of one another in four areas critical to youth development: health, education, employment and recreation.

"Health" refers to teenage pregnancy counseling and prevention; infant and maternalmortality reduction; HIV/AIDS counseling and prevention; substance abuse and rape counseling; domestic violence counseling; and youth gang violence reduction.

"Education" refers to education for life; population, sexual and reproductive health education; vocational education; and anti-corruption/good government education.

"Employment" refers to promoting/facilitating an enabling environment; vocational counseling; labor apprenticeships; business incubation; and the reduction of gender and generational discrimination and conflict.

"Recreation" refers to promoting healthy recreation and cultural activities/events.

Critical to the development of the Options for Life program has been the Nicaraguan Secretariat for Youth's preliminary inventory of health, education and employment services available to youth and the program development coalition's assessment of the most vital information, education and service needs of youth.

On May 20, Women’s eNews honored 21 Leaders for the 21st century. Among the honorees were Lois Abraham and Jane Roberts, co-founders of the “34 Million Friends of UNFPA” campaign.

UNFPA is to women what UNICEF is to children. Yet for three consecutive years, the Bush Administration has withheld funding approved by the US Congress for UNFPA. In 2002, that meant that UNFPA was short US$34 million in its work to save women lives.

In 1994, over 180 country governments adopted a Program of Action that included specific objectives for all countries relating to health, women’s status and social development. UNFPA helps countries achieve the objectives.

Outraged by the decision taken by the Bush Administration, Lois Abraham, a lawyer from New Mexico, and Jane Roberts, a retired French teacher from California initiated a grassroots movement that came to be called 34 Million Friends of UNFPA. Working from their homes, they sent e-mails to friends, clubs and associations urging people to donate one dollar or more to help bridge the gap in funding. Their ultimate goal is to find “34 Million Friends” to help UNFPA continue its work as the largest international provider of maternal health care and family planning.

Inspired by a campaign theme concept from co-founder Jane Roberts, Face to Face has developed and produced a theme song and music video featuring recording artist Odetta.

Click to view 34 Million Friends of UNFPA music video

YouAct - a European Youth Network on sexual and reproductive rights was launched during a Youth Conference in Lisbon, Portugal in May 2004. Its membership consists of young European activists aged between 20 and 25 with a diverse background in sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR); such as peer education, lobbying, advocacy, outreach and research.

During the conference, young European participants: (i) shared knowledge on sexual and reproductive health of young people worldwide and the region; and (ii) discussed youth participation challenges and ways to overcome them.

The objective of YouAct is to empower young people. It is essential that young people are aware of the full scope of their rights and entitlement. Further, its purpose is to put and keep sexual and reproductive health and rights – particularly related to youth – on the national, European and international agenda.

Face to Face was one sponsor of the Youth Conference in Portugal and produced a commemorative video of the launch of YouAct.

Click here to view the video