Highlights of the Project

Youth Volunteers: Catalysts and Positive Deviants

There is much anecdotal evidence that Youth Volunteers are influencing youth for change to a nearly unexpected degree. There is a huge impact in the fact that they are near peers (very close to youth) in age, ethnicity, gender, interests, past or present experiences, for them to be very easily accepted, yet different enough for them to have great positive influence as a living presence of the possibilities of different choices. They are more than just role models, they are inspiring positive deviants. There is even evidence to suggest that their example has reintroduced the concept of helping one another and volunteerism.

Mobilization of Youth For Social Development and Care

Youth in a number of villages has changed from previous negative social behaviour (fighting, disrespecting older people, not attending school) to very positive behaviours: learning, getting to know other youth rather than fighting with them, meeting regularly, displaying willingness to contribute to community events and to help vulnerable families.

Relevance of Programme

Youth perceive that about 40% of the singles in their communities is sexually active and satisfies their sexual needs in negative ways or because of negative factors (rape, exploitation, alcohol and drug abuse, peer pressure, watching of pornography). This must greatly influence how (sexual) relationships are experienced and sets the youth up for relational challenges in their later life . They further indicate that domestic violence happens in all communities in about 45% of the households.

Programme Components Interconnectedness

Engagement with one of the programme component often indicates a correlation with one or both of the other programme components. Unstable family relationships, prevalence of domestic violence and unhealthy Boy/Girl Relationships are all named as reasons for children to drop out of school.

Download our report on Engaging Cambodian Youth in the Prevention of Gender Based Violence