HRIDAY-SHAN's primary strategic thrust is fostering the participation of young people in initiatives designed to raise community health awareness and to mobilise action.

One programme focus is on youth participation in conferences and public events. Selected examples include:

Youth activism is also fostered through campaigns and political mobilisation. For instance,

Contests and games are another communication tool. In 2002, 25,000 10- to 12-year-old students from over 200 schools in Dehli participated in a Poster Drawing Contest designed to increase public awareness of issues related to health and the environment. And, in 2003, HRIDAY-SHAN organised an inter-college debate competition on the topic 'Tobacco control should be guided by individual choice and not by governmental policy'. Participating students will gradually be trained to reach out to the community to disseminate awareness on health issues and empower their fellow citizens. The organisation has also developed board games in English and Hindi (Enviro-I, Enviro-II, and Enviro-III) and an interactive CD game on environment and health. These games are designed to sensitise children of various ages about environmental issues (and possible solutions) by presenting topics in an enjoyable and challenging way.

The organisation also offers resources in English and Hindi, including 21 posters on various health themes (tobacco, environment, diet and nutrition, physical activity), a Teachers' Training Manual, and various fact sheets and booklets.

Youth, Children, Tobacco, Health, Environment.

This collaboration evolved from a research project. Phase I (1992-1994) focused on school-based health education. It included workshops for students and teachers, assembly talks and interactive sessions, quiz programmes, poster and speaking contests, and project work. Topics included diet and nutrition, physical activity, tobacco avoidance, stress management, and environment. Students (grades 6-11) from 16 private schools and 17 government schools in Delhi were randomly allocated to 'active intervention' and 'passive observation' groups. Educational material in Hindi and English - including posters, illustrated booklets, and a film on healthy lifestyles - were provided to schools. Some additional resources, such as tobacco information folders, audio-cassettes containing talks by experts on the health hazards of tobacco, alcohol, and drugs, were also used. An interactive computer software programme was developed. Schools in the active intervention group demonstrated greater positive change in knowledge level as compared to schools in the control group.

During the second phase (1996-1998), students aged 11-14 from 15 government and 15 private schools participated in programmes focused on diet and nutrition, tobacco avoidance, and physical activity. School-level activities included teacher- and peer-leader training workshops and intra- and inter-school debate competitions. Educational material was provided. The intervention group showed a lower-than-anticipated rise in the proportion of students experimenting with smoking, in comparison with similar schools that did not have any intervention.

The third phase (1999-2001), which involved school, home, and community-outreach activities, was meant to enhance tobacco-related health awareness and stimulating discussion on tobacco-control policies. Posters designed by students from Health Art and illustrated booklets were among the materials used.

In 2002, HRIDAY-SHAN was awarded the WHO Tobacco Free World Award on the occasion of World No Tobacco Day.

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and WHO have proposed a wider dissemination of this tobacco control model across India. To pursue this plan, HRIDAY invited representatives from NGOs and school principals from 12 cities in India for workshops in January and February 2002.