GYM 2009 | GYM 2006

GYM 2006

Overview \| Download Charter- Y4H

HRIDAY-SHAN organized the First Global Youth Meet on Health (GYM 2006) November 14-19, 2006 (New Delhi and Agra)
What is activism?
Action to achieve a desired goal Intentional action to bring about social or political change
Why Youth Activism?
Impressionable age when attitudes and behaviours towards health get etched Abundance of energy to be channelised towards positive social change Potential advocates for health promoting policies Effective and enthusiastic watchdogs for effective enforcement of policies
The Organisation: HRIDAY-SHAN (Awareness, Advocacy and Action on Health)
HRIDAY (Health Related Information Dissemination Amongst Youth)-SHAN (Student Health Action Network), a voluntary organisation of health professionals and social scientists, engaged in activities aiming to promote health awareness and informed health activism among school and college students in India, since 1992.
Works in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, to promote health awareness and informed health activism among youth in India School and community based health education programmes have been successful in inculcating healthy lifestyle practices among Indian youth (results evaluated and published) Informed health advocacy by youth is an innovative component which has helped to catalyse health action in tobacco control. Through the HRIDAY-SHAN programme, schools have also become portals of health education for neighbourhood communities Recipient of research/programme grants from National Institutes of Health (USA), World Health Organization, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (USA) Research for International Tobacco Control (Canada) United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and Government of India (Ministry of Health and Family Welfare) Awarded and Endorsed by WHO: WHO Director General’s Award for contributions to tobacco control (2002) Programme listed as a best practice model Recommended for global replication
225 youth from 35 countries from around the world with 280 (Youth and adults) national and international delegates from 35 countries and 11 states of India
In this first of a kind meet (GYM 2006), a total number of 225 youth from 35 countries from around the world participated along with eminent resource persons from various organizations. These participants were oriented on health issues, using innovative health education strategies. This initiative empowered youth through enhanced health awareness and strengthened health advocacy skills among youth leaders.
GYM delegation was joined by 10,000 Indian school students from various schools of Delhi, at the inaugural ceremony on November 14, 2006 and 2500 youth supported this delegation at the closing ceremony on November 19, 2006 Technical sessions at Agra from November 15- 18, 2006 involved sharing of HRIDAY-SHAN’s health promotion experiences and success story with international partners and learning from their experiences and successes
Themes that were addressed during GYM 2006:
Diet and Nutrition (including healthy diets, food safety, food policies) Promotion of Physical Activity Avoidance of Addictions like Tobacco, Alcohol and Drugs Protection and promotion of Environment Healthy Gender Relations (including prevention of HIV-AIDS) Road Safety Peace and Non-Violent Conflict Resolution
Technical sessions at Agra included:
Small group discussions, skill building workshops (led by youth participants) Interaction with Indian policy makers Developed global recommendations for health promotion Cultural and social exchange sessions
GYM 2006: NOT a one time event but a beginning to a sustainable global youth movement
The Movement: Youth For Health (Y4H)
A worldwide movement of health advocacy by young change agents, Y4H (Youth For Health) was launched at GYM 2006. It will evolve into a powerful global platform of advocacy for health promoting policies. This network is being facilitated by e-connectivity by HRIDAY-SHAN, in partnership with organizations such as WHO, World Heart Federation and GLOBALink.

Y4H is undertaking:
Regular exchange of views on policy issues related to health among GYM delegates Concerted global e-advocacy on identified health issues Coordinated national and international action programmes Widening the Y4H network at each country level