Working With Young People To Eradicate FGM

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Working With Young People To Eradicate FGM

• By Leyla Hussein
• Youth outreach/clinical assist.
• African well womens service Waltham
  forest primary care trust

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My role as an Youth Outreach Worker.

• Make links with young people from the Somali
  community.
• Organise health awareness sessions for young
  people.
• Link in with schools to raise awareness with
  teachers
• Make links with local and national
  organisations who work
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  with women who are effected
  by FGM.
• To promote the work of the service and raise
  awareness of FGM
• Work with other agencies e.g.. Face2Face, Youth
  Groups
• Link young people into a wider services and
  encourage their
• involvement in steering/focus groups.

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Waltham Forest African Well Womens Service

• Team consists of a Specialist Nurse, Community
  Health Adviser and
• Youth Outreach Worker who work closely with
  other agencies
• Won 2003 Creative and Innovative Practice Award
  from Queens
• Nursing Institute/ Directorate of Health
  Social Care (London)
• Part of the steering group for the National
  Network working against FGM
• Won 2005 Primary Care Trust Equality and
  Diversity Award
• Model of Good Practice in Europe (National
  Board for Health and
• Welfare, Sweden)
• 2006 Multi agency child protection policy
  ratified by LSCB
• in Waltham Forest
• Used as a case study to support guidance for
  professionals on the
• involvement of refugees in planning and
  delivery of services

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Young Africans Friends / Somali
Youth Forum
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Youth groups.Young African's and friends

• The Aims and Objectives of this group are
• To raise awareness on issues around FGM and
  HIV/AIDS.
• To help reduce isolation among young Africans
  through networking and collaborating with other
  young people in the borough
• To raise confidence to enable young people to
  participate in the group and social activities.
• To recruit volunteers.
• For non-Africans to be part of the group.

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Somali youth forum

• The Aims and Objectives of this group are
• To Identify other Somali youth services ( all
  London borough).
• Linking with other non Somali youth service.
• To build up the Somali youth's profile.
• Identify great role models.
• Organise Events e.g. Somali independence

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Out comes of the groups.

• Media Group.( Somali on air, Somali Eye radio and
  magazine.
• Writers group.( Poets)
• Dance group.( all stars)
• Arts group.
• Event organisers e.g. Eid.

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Training, Events and Projects the young people
were and still involved in..

• Somali Eid concert (November 2004)
• Somali Independence (July 1st 2005)
• G8 meeting in Edinburgh 06/07/05
• 8Th European Migrants Meeting. New Trends
  Innovative Actions
• In the field of HIV/AIDS.
• Conference "European Youth in Action for
  Diversity and Tolerance",
• Berlin, 6 - 9 November 2005.
• Young people speak out.
• This project is run by Forward and the aim of
  this project is to empower and educate young
  people about gender based violence.
• Celebrating Somali Fathers
• Minority Communities in Action (More info on the
  A/N report.)
• 100 Black Mens Organisation, which is a non
  profit making group who are dedicated to
  providing support for young black men.
• DEBATE TO ACTION
• Building Capacity in Youth Organizations (A Pilot
  British Council/World Bank Learning Programs)

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Obstacles/Barriers

• Lack of resources
• Limited funding
• Lack of venues
• Part time staff
• uncertainty around the future of the service.
• Need to earn the trust of the elder
  community/professionals.
• Working with the women more difficult than men.
• Newly established role within the PCT.
• GAIN THE TRUST OF THE YOUNG PEOPLE.

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Warning!

• They are the Future Parents.
• Empower the young people.
• To treat the young people with respect, talk with
  them NOT at THEM.
• Dont make promises you cant keep.
• Involve the young people who use the service.
• CONFIDENTIALITY

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Most importantly

• Free food and a DJ is a MUST.
• Thank you for your attention.