“Y-Peer saved my life. For that, I am so thankful,” Oyuka* explains, recalling her recent contemplation of suicide, before a youth peer educator reached out to her.
Throughout Mongolia, being a youth can be challenging and isolating—moving to urban centres for education and jobs, leaving families behind, while the country rapidly changes. In this dynamic context, UNFPA’s youth peer education programme, Y-Peer, reaches out to the most vulnerable and marginalized youth in Mongolia, not just educating youth, but also saving lives.
Y-Peer educators are youth trained in areas such as outreach and counselling, who go out into the community to provide support to other youth. With support from the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, UNFPA initiated an innovative Y-Peer campaign, New Friends.
Being a peer educator at a young age is no easy feat, requiring confidence, empathy and flexibility. Reaching out to the most marginalized youth is a special challenge. The campaign encouraged peer educators to seek out “new friends”: youth that fall through the gaps in society, whether it be sitting alone in the schoolyard or skipping school all together. When troubles arise, youth peers are at the coalface, noticing the earliest signs of things going awry.
Enkhbat joined Y-Peer as an enthusiastic, conscientious youth, keen to support his peers in Zakhan. Following introductory training, Enkhbat was determined to make a difference as part of the New Friends campaign. Setting out to reach people beyond his comfort zone, day after day Enkhbat noticed a girl, sitting alone in the schoolyard, despondent and not talking with anyone.
“She didn’t like to talk and couldn’t express what she wanted, so we started writing letters,” he says. “Each letter explained bit by bit what she was experiencing.”
Living in a dormitory away from home, Oyuka struggled with personal demons; her mom was very sick, her classmates were bullies. Oyuka was worried about her mom, but ongoing conflict meant they never talked. It was distressing, eating her up inside.
“Enkhbat my friend, please forgive me. Now I have no other means to live. In fact, I don’t even understand myself. My classmates misunderstand me and it leaves me no option. I have no one, it’s difficult, it makes me feel bad. As my classmates bully me, I’d rather die… Please stop worrying about me… Please don’t write to me,” Oyuka wrote.
Unperturbed, Enkhbat continued to exchange letters: “Don’t be sad, my friend. We can talk together, my friend. If you have something that you don’t want to share with others, you can tell me. I won’t tell anyone, I will keep it to myself,” he wrote.
Letter by letter, trust was built. As the threat of suicide increased, Enkhbat suggested visiting a doctor at the Adolescent Friendly Health Centre. Reluctant at first, Oyuka finally acquiesced, and Enkhbat brought her to the centre. Discussing Oyuka’s desperate plight, Enkhbat bridged the communication gap. Bit by bit, Oyuka’s outlook on life and confidence improved causing the bullying to stop. There was hope. “Y-Peer saved my life. For that, I am so thankful,” Oyuka explains, as she now looks forward to a brighter future.
*All names have been changed to protect people’s identities.
