Project Environment and Description of Organization:

The services aim at following beneficiaries:
• Adolescents and young people.
• Young couples.
• Future parents.
• Medical workers.
• Employees of educational institutions.
• Other NGO's focused on health and development.
Young people aged 10-24 comprise 27 % of Moldova's population. Rapid urbanization, telecommunication, traveling and migration bring new opportunities and risks for youth. Many of the factors contributing to risky behaviors among youth are rooted in the social environment
within which they live, such as: poverty, unemployment, reduced investments in the social sector, reduced access to quality education and health services; increased migration, including human trafficking; and limited opportunities for further education, employment and
recreational activities.
Youth Friendly Health Center Neovita is addressing through prevention and treatment measures following problems of Moldovan youth:
• Increasing rates of sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including HIV:
Data suggests increasing level of sexual transmission of infection (HIV for example) especially in youth. 31,1 % of infections with HIV are transmitted sexually.
• Teenage pregnancy and abortion:
According to recent data 67,5 % of single girls in Moldova did not use any kind of contraception during their first sexual intercourse and only 8,3 % reported using a condom.
• Drug and alcohol use:
In the last ten years the number of drug users in Moldova has greatly increased and the age of first drug use is decreasing. 20 % of people reporting drug use are students.
• Deterioration of educational standards:
The proportion of children enrolled in the primary and secondary educational system decreased from 95 % in 1989 to 76 % in 2000. Also each year a lot of students who finish secondary school do not continue their education.
• Unemployment and emigration:
Rate of unemployment among young people is over 30 %. This has been the main factor explaining unprecedented levels of emigration. In most cases migration is associated with increased sexual and drug use risk behaviors, especially among young people.
• Reduced access to health services:
Health and life skills is carried out only sporadically, primarily by NGOs. This subject is superficially addressed in schools and universities.

Activities of the volunteer:

• Aiding staff and/or other volunteers prepare and deliver seminars;
• Helping staff members at creating brochures, informational materials;
• To prepare and/or deliver seminars, meetings of young people in the forms of youth clubs or initiate new groups of young people according to the aims and mission of the organization;
• Teaching lessons, seminars on topics such as: promotion of healthy way of life, prevention of sexually transmissible diseases, developmental features of different age groups (including particularities of adolescence), prevention of trafficking in human beings, prevention of domestic violence, prevention of substance abuse (alcohol, drugs),
communication, conflict prevention and resolution love and relationships and other topics relevant to the aims and target group of the organization;
• Aiding staff in updating the website of the organization www.neovita.md (new ideas, search of relevant information, announcements; design and website improvement etc.);
• Offering information to beneficiaries on the topic of responsible parenthood and other topics related to family planning.

Volunteer Profile:

Youth Friendly Health Center Neovita is looking for one volunteer who has interest for the domains of activity of the center and is open for a new environment, new friendships and new activities.
Benefits:
• Possibility of working in an environment of young people (the center has a team of local volunteers that get involved occasionally);
• Possibility of learning new methods of working with young people;
• Possibility of assisting at trainings made by specialists in areas such as youth health;
• Opportunities to develop own ideas and small projects.
Website of the organization: www.neovita.md