YouthShakers.org - Global

The interactive website provides features written by youth on topics identified by youth, such as young people's access to contraception and services, how to establish a peer education programme, information about training opportunities and conferences, links to other youth and health advocacy groups, and message boards to post questions and chat with other youth worldwide.

Meetings with IPPF youth and other activist youth involved in sexual and reproductive health foster a wide variety of contributions in terms of topic and geographical location. Between meetings, young people post articles and participate in general discussions about their work and the website via several email lists.

Youth, HIV/AIDS, Reproductive Health, Technology.

Over 630,000 unique visitors have logged onto the site since its launch. In year three of the grant period, 321,570 people visited the web site from 128 identifiable countries. Specifically, approximately 76% of visitors to the site came from 17 distinct countries in North America, Central America, and the Caribbean; 11% came from 39 distinct European countries; and approximately 9% came from 38 distinct countries in Asia. Visitors from Africa (19 distinct countries), South America (from 9 countries), and Oceana (from 8 countries) together accounted for approximately 4% or 12,000 visitors in 2002. There was a 64% increase in the number of people visiting the site from January through December, 2002.

One 23-year-old site user in Kenya said, "Youthshakers helped me to create a program to educate parents about talking with their children on sexuality issues in the Massaii community. I used the message boards to get feedback on my program from others working with youth and parents..."