ABOUT SPW

SPW is the global leader in engaging and supporting young people to address the urgent health, education, and environmental issues in their lives. SPW’s youth-led programmes reach more than 400,000 young people every week and are cited as an example of best practice by UNICEF, UNAIDS, and the World Bank for their unique methodology. 

Our mission is to place young people at the forefront of change and development.

SPW at a Glance

• SPW is an international development charity working in eight countries across sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia.

• SPW mobilises young people by recruiting and training 18-28 year olds to serve as Volunteer Peer Educators (VPEs). These VPEs live full-time in rural communities for 6-12 months and lead health, environmental and education programmes. SPW currently has almost 1,000 volunteers, 85% of whom are from the host programme countries, who work in partnership with volunteers from Europe, North America, and Australia.

• Youth to youth education is at the heart of SPW’s methodology. SPW Volunteer Peer Educators use interactive non-formal education methods, such as music, drama and dance to engage children and youth, and promote healthy living.

• SPW VPEs directly reach 400,000 young people each year with health and environmental education at a cost of just £5 per child.

• SPW programmes work directly with local and national government and civil society partners, tackling the underlying causes of poverty whilst building local capacity.

• For more information about SPW, you can also download our most recent 2006 Annual Report. Our 2005 Annual Report is also avaliable.
  

Our Strategic Objectives: 

You can download our full Strategic Framework here: SPW 07-10 Strategic Framework

Strategic Objective 1: Young people will take up significant roles in the policy-making processes that affect their lives. SPW will create meaningful opportunities and empower young people to take up roles in decision-making processes that improve their lives and those of others:

• Young people will participate in decision-making processes that affect development at local, national, regional, and international levels. 
• Young people will have a leading role in the implementation of development activities at the community level

Strategic Objective 2: Young people will make responsible decisions regarding their Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH). SPW will ensure that young people are informed, trained and sufficiently supported by their communities and governments to make responsible SRH decisions:

• Young people will make responsible choices concerning their sexual and reproductive health resulting in a decrease in HIV, sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and teen pregnancies 
• Communities and governments will actively contribute to creating a supportive environment in which young people can take responsibility for their SRH choices

Strategic Objective 3: Young people will have improved life skills and livelihood opportunities. SPW will ensure that young people can safely navigate adolescence, and be prepared and capable as young adults to enjoy productive lives:

• Young people will gain skills to maintain healthy lifestyles and take positive control of their lives
• Young people will gain capacity for and access to information, training, and community resources to improve their pre-professional skills leading to better livelihoods