YAAR

Youth Against Antimicrobial Resistance (YAAR)

Background

This is a joint youth-led research and engagement project to developing a learning framework to support children and young people’s understanding of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in Kenya, Nepal, Thailand and Vietnam. This project is funded by Wellcome UK.

Project Aim

Developing a learning framework to support children and young people’s understanding of antimicrobial resistance and the actions they take as community advocates to reduce its impact.

Project Description

The project is aimed at developing a dual approach;

1. Participatory research approaches to harness youth capacity, and to incorporate the perspectives of children and youth about AMR from the project outset
2. Engagements, formal and informal learning to increase awareness of children and youth about AMR and to empower them for youth-led actions against AMR.

The project is being delivered in four countries in the Global South – Vietnam, Thailand, Nepal and Kenya, and validated in a wide range of countries identified through the project team and Wellcome’s extensive networks.

Implementation Strategy.

The project is happening in two phases. In the first rapid pilot phase (taking place in 2020) we will:

• conduct research (online survey, postcard survey and telephone survey), including participatory youth-led research, into knowledge and awareness of AMR amongst children and youth
• working with our AMR Youth Working Groups to co-design age-appropriate messages for children
  and youth about tackling the global health challenge presented by AMR
• testing these messages through engagement activities during World Antimicrobial Awareness Week (WAAW) 2020.

In phase two (2021) AMR Youth Working Groups to develop of a framework for learning about AMR. This will identify key points of knowledge and understanding appropriate to different age groups, as well as effective ways of delivering these across a diverse range
of settings and learning environments.