Four Years Of Youth Health Advocacy

Youth Advolution for Health marks birthday with health i-Pledge Drive
Youth Advolution for Health (YAH) is celebrating its fourth anniversary by taking to the streets on a pledge drive to fulfil its vision, Every Youth, a Health Advocate . The YAH youths will be encouraging their peers to promote healthy living among their peers and take a stand for health.

i-Pledge Drive
2 More than 100 YAH volunteers will be stationed at youth-centric locations around Singapore on Saturday 12 December to encourage youths to pledge their commitment to good health by:

Being and remaining smoke free
Not indulging in binge drinking
Abstaining from sex to prevent HIV/AIDS
Sharing problems with family and friends to cope better with stress
Exercising regularly
Eating two servings each of fruits and vegetables daily.
3 Youths can select the health habits that they would like to commit to, and they will then be presented with a diary planner bearing the pledge and other health messages.

4 The i-Pledge Drive was conceptualised by YAH as a means of tapping youths natural passion and energy and channelling it towards the topic of health. We hope that by signing the pledge, youths will be motivated to take positive steps towards healthier lifestyles, as well as spread the message of health among their peers. Our target is to garner at least 2,500 signatures, said Mr Benjamin Loh, President of YAH.

YAH Birthday Bash
5 YAH will also celebrate its anniversary with a birthday bash for 200 youth participants in the evening at Republic Polytechnic. Mr Lam Pin Woon, Chief Executive Officer of the Health Promotion Board, will be the Guest-of-Honour.

6 During the event, SMS voting for the Nobody But Youth Photo Collage Competition will be held. 520 submissions for the competition, which was held on Facebook for youths aged 15 to 29, were received between 1 to 22 October.

7 The photographs will be compiled into a collage which will be presented to United Nations Association of Singapore in honour of the 2009 International Youth Day theme, Sustainability: Our Challenge. Our Future .

About Youth Advolution for Health (YAH)
8 YAH is Singapore s first youth-led health advocacy programme supported by the Health Promotion Board. The word Advolution is coined from the words Advocate and Revolution . YAH provides a platform for youths aged 17 to 25 to advocate a healthy lifestyle by planning and implementing original and revolutionary health projects. It also gives youths an avenue to maximise their talents and potential to make a difference in the lives of their peers.

9 YAH is similar to peer advocacy programmes in countries and regions such as the United States, Taiwan, Thailand and Malaysia. It is fully driven by youths and seeks to leverage on the influence of peer-led projects to bring about positive changes in the health behaviours of the young.

10 The YAH programme has three main objectives:

a) Empower youths to advocate for a healthy lifestyle in Singapore;
b) Engage youths in various health issues and concerns; and
c) Encourage youths to plan and implement innovative health programmes for their peers.

11 YAH was launched in September 2005 with only six passionate youths promoting smoke-free living. Today, YAH has over 70 members (also known as Advocates) and its areas of interest include sexual health, mental wellness, alcohol education, nutrition and regular physical activity. YAH s signature event, the Youth Health Symposium, attracts hundreds of youths annually and addresses contemporary issues and topics in youth health.