The Youth Leadership in Sexual and Reproductive Health Program (GOJoven) of the Public Health Institute held its second Mexico National Meeting of 2012 on September 8 and 9, 2012, at the Hotel City Express in Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo. All of the graduated fellows from the 2004 to 2011 cohorts were invited to the meeting, with the 2012 fellows also participating in the National Training. Twenty-six fellows attended the National Meeting. The purpose of the meeting was: Strengthen the relationship between fellows of multiple cohorts and their ongoing/future impact on positive outcomes for adolescent sexual and reproductive health (ASRH) as individuals and as a group; advance the planning for sustainability by getting the input/ideas/involvement of the fellows, especially those who have not yet shared their vision.
Achievements: Fellows who participated in this meeting were able to:
- share experiences and get to know each other, especially the new 2012 cohort
- learn about the progress of the regional Advisory Committee
- learn about the advances and results of the National Sustainability Commission meetings inMexico
- learn PHI’s objectives, expected results and impact
- analyze the problems found in the state of Quintana Roo and what strategies and results fellows want to acheive as a team in the next two years to create change in ASRH in Quintana Roo
- realize GOJoven’s mission and vision as a country team inMexico
- become actively involved in the regional strategy and establish the types and levels of commitment within each distinct project of the coming phase
Additionally, fellows discussed the importance of the GOJoven Digital Stories as a tool for political advocacy and teamwork. Each fellow identified to what level they will commit themselves to the coming activities in GOJoven, including: filling out an online questionnaire, participate actively in the regional strategy, collaborate in meetings that will result in a legal constitution of GOJoven Mexico, and work on advocating for a law in Quintana Roo that protects the rights of people living with HIV and AIDS.