Two young staff of the Goa-based ‘Human Touch Foundation’, Sandhya Chawan, Lead of Adolescent Health and Wellbeing, and Usha Pawar, Program Assistant for Adolescent Health and Wellbeing, are representing India at the Asia Pacific Workshop on TeenGen v.2 in Bangkok, Thailand. The workshop, from 28th January to 1st February, was organised by Youth LEAD, with support from UNFPA Regional Office and UNESCO Bangkok Regional Office.
TeenGen, a transformative leadership course introduced by Youth LEAD in 2017, focuses on reaching adolescents from key populations aged 13-16. The program aims to mobilise and identify potential activists who can contribute to the broader youth movement engaged in addressing HIV issues, upholding sexual and reproductive health and rights, and includes comprehensive components on Sexuality Education.
Human Touch Foundation has been a pioneer in the field of youth-driven programs, particularly in the domain of health and wellbeing, with a sharp focus on HIV, substance abuse, and sexual and reproductive health. The foundation’s commitment to empowering adolescents and young people has garnered recognition from regional and global organisations.
In 2018, Human Touch Foundation hosted the National Level TeenGen Workshop, bringing together over 40 adolescents and young people from 8 different states, with invaluable support from UNAIDS. This event marked a significant milestone in the foundation’s journey to create awareness and mobilise youth towards positive change.
Commenting on the participation, Sandhya Chawan stated, “We are honoured to represent India in the Asia Pacific Workshop on TeenGen v.2. This opportunity allows us to bring back valuable knowledge and insights to further enrich our programs at Human Touch Foundation, ultimately benefiting the youth we serve.”
Usha Pawar added, “Engaging with a diverse group of young leaders from across the Asia Pacific region is an incredible learning experience. We look forward to not only sharing our experiences but also learning from the innovative approaches adopted by our counterparts.”
