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TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras, Sept. 12, 2003 — The project Young People in Action has attracted a lot of positive attention recently from the leaders of religious organizations for its innovative approach to combating the spread of HIV among the adolescent population in Honduras. The project, which was founded by PSI and its affiliate, Pan American Social Marketing Organization (PASMO) in Tegucigalpa almost two years ago, began working with religious organizations as part of an effort to expand its reach, and to share its successful ideas and materials. Quickly, PASMO/Honduras discovered that many religious organizations, such as the Christian Association of Young People (ACJ) and CARITAS of Honduras, share the same objectives. These organizations are committed to combating the spread of HIV, and educating adolescents about the risks of sexually transmitted infections and the value of abstinence and fidelity. They are interested in PASMO/Honduras´ project because they want learn how to convince adolescents to take more responsible decisions regarding their sexual health. In Honduras, the country with the highest HIV rate in Central America., PASMO's youth project is tackling the problem with innovative and youthful strategies. The project involves an Internet café and an activity center, which combine to create a system of incentives and edutainment for the adolescents who wish to contribute to the program. In the activities center, PASMO staff members Suyapa Barahona and Javier Raudales train dozens of adolescent peer educators, who in turn conduct activities and interventions directly with their peers in schools and in high-risk neighborhoods. The project also includes a mass media component, with a weekly live radio program designed and hosted by adolescents from the program. ACJ is one of the religious organizations in Tegucigalpa with an emphasis on HIV prevention that is interested in PASMO´s youth project. This past summer, the ACJ invited members of the youth project to participate in their national conference and to share their methodology and educational activities. The interactive games and activities from the project Young People in Action were well received by the participating organizations. The organization CARITAS of Honduras also recognized the impact of Young People in Action when they collaborated with the project during "Young Peoples' Week" this past August at the AIDS EXPO. At this event, dozens of schools and other organizations came together to share ideas about the promotion of STI/HIV/AIDS education for adolescents. Teen volunteers from Young People in Action helped to organize the event, presented educational games like "Battle against HIV/AIDS" and Lotería Vive, held interpersonal communications activities about the risks of STIs and HIV and distributed educational materials to participating schools. Nelly Alvarado, an outstanding member of the project Young People in Action, was selected during the exposition to speak on behalf of all Honduran adolescents. The adolescent volunteers of PASMO/Honduras´ youth project made such an impression on the exposition's participating organizations, that some began calling Young People in Action "Young People of Impact," a nickname that is now widely associated with the project. — Suyapa Barahona, PSI/Honduras
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