On March 7 2001, the Vientiane Women's Union established the Vientiane Youth Center in response to the health and social challenges faced by young people in Laos. Young people were experiencing many issues such as drug use and addiction, sexually transmitted infections and HIV/AIDS, and said they wanted to have a place to go to discuss their problems and get advice.
The Center was the first organisation in Laos to provide sexual and reproductive health services specifically for young people. It filled a significant service gap as almost one third of the Laos population is aged 10 to 24 years.
Since 2001, the scope of the services provided by the Vientiane Youth Center has increased. It now conducts outreach education campaigns and screening services in schools, factories and local communities and provides a telephone counselling service. It has introduced a program of capacity development in communities outside of Vientiane Province. The Center has continued to be creative, using social media and mainstream media to reach young people across the country.
- Vision: To be a center of excellence in providing sexual health and reproductive health services for young people aged 10 to 24 years.
- Mission: Vientiane Youth Center will provide access to appropriate information and high quality, affordable services to improve the sexual and reproductive health and life skills of young people.
- Goals:
- Reduce the rate of teenage pregnancy
- Reduce the maternal mortality rate
- Reduce anemia in young women
- Improve young people’s access to contraception
- Reduce the rate of sexually transmitted infections and HIV/AIDS
- Reduce the rate of drug and mental health problems among young people
The Vientiane Youth Center has received support from many Laos organizations such as Maho Som Hospital, Vientiane Capital Health Department, Vientiane Capital City Council, Department of Education and Sports Vientiane, Department of Youth Vientiane and the ChildFund Laos. International organizations have also supported the Youth Center, including European Union, SCA, United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), UNICEF, CARE, the Asia Foundation, Oxfam, Oxfam Novib and Rotary Norridge. It values the resources and expertise gained through these collaborative partnerships.
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