Esther Tahrir, MPH
Esther Tahrir, MPH, directs PHI's Youth Leadership in Sexual and Reproductive Health Program (GOJoven) and multiple adolescent health projects that benefit Latin America. Since joining PHI in 2000, Tahrir has helped establish the Mesoamerican Health Initiative and PHI's global health unit.
Tahrir is a public health education specialist focused on strengthening public health leadership globally. She has more than 20 years of experience working in public and reproductive health, supporting leadership development in Latin America, Africa and Asia. Her professional interests include providing training and development opportunities to emerging and senior-level leaders from developing countries working in public, reproductive and women's health.
Tahrir received her BA with honors in community studies from the University of California (UC) at Santa Cruz and a master's degree in public health from UC Berkeley, where she was awarded the Henrik L. Blum Award for Distinguished Social Action.
Better Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights for Young People Affected by HIV
The Global Youth Coalition on HIV/AIDS (GYCA) will partner with the International AIDS Alliance on their “Better Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights for Young People Affected by HIV” project. GYCA will: 1) participate in the Program Board and Steering Committee; 2) influence donor policies to include commitments to rights-based integration; and 3) help to influence the post-MDG framework and the ICPD+20 processes to include a strong commitment to health and human rights of marginalized group.
Building Organizational Capacity to Improve Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health in Central America
This project enhances the organizational capacity of community service organizations and government agencies to implement youth friendly, evidence-based adolescent sexual and reproductive health policies and programs. By leveraging existing programs in Belize, Guatemala and Honduras, GOJoven mounts a two-day organizational capacity building workshop in Spanish for 15 organizations in each of the three countries.
Comprehensive Center of Human Sexuality for Adolescents and Youth
This project provides strategic plannig support and technical assistance to the Comprehensive Center of Human Sexuality for Adolescents and Youth (CHISPAS) in Quintana Roo, Mexico. The only center of its kind in the state, CHISPAS will offer information and training to youth on sexual and reproductive health, violence prevention, pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases including HIV, sexual and reproductive rights, gender equality, and sexual diversity.
Expanding Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health Services and Education in Quintana Roo, Mexico and Peten, Guatemala
PHI will continue to provide technical assistance and financial support to two NGOs: SEEDSSA in Quintana Roo, Mexico and Tan Uxil in Peten, Guatamala. Over 100 Ministry of Health service providers in eight clinics will be trained as referral agents to free and low-cost adolescent sexual and reproductive health (ASRH) services, reaching hundreds of youth and adolescents in at-risk rural and urban areas.
Strengthening the Enabling Environments to Support Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health in Mexico and Central America
This project will provide funds and technical assistance to increase the capacity of organizations in Belize, Guatemala, Mexico and Honduras to provide an enabling environment supportive of adolescent sexual and reproductive health as well as youth leadership.
Summit Scholarship Fund
International Health Programs implements the Summit Scholarship Fund to complement the overall goals of GOJoven. IHP provides scholarships and professional guidance to a selected group of GOJoven alumni, supporting their education and building their leadership to improve adolescent sexual and reproductive health in Mexico and Central America.
Supporting Expansion of Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health Services and Education in Quintana Roo, Mexico, and Peten, Guatemala
PHI continues to provide TA and financial support to two NGOs: SEEDSSA in Quintana Roo, Mexico, and Tan Uxil in Peten, Guatemala. The project will train over 100 Ministry of Health service providers in eight clnics in rural and urban economically disadvantaged areas to act as referral agents to access free and low-cost adolescent sexual and reproductive health (ASRH) services. These organizations improve and expand ASRH education and medical services for hundreds of youth.
Supporting Incidejoven to improve the sexual and reproductive health of adolescents in Guatemala
This capacity-building project assists Incidejoven, an organization dedicated to improving the sexual and reproductive health and rights of adolescents in Guatemala, to strengthen Incidejoven's leadership and management capacity to achieve its mission. Incidejoven's advocacy activities support and monitor implementation of the Universal Family Planning Law and follow up on the National Sexual Education Campaign.
Training and Development of Youth HIV Organizations Funded by the Staying Alive Foundation
The purpose of this project is to implement group training and provide resources to sustain continuous learning opportunities for youth organizations during their second, third and fourth years as Staying Alive Foundation (SAF) grantees. Through these activities PHI will help SAF achieve its goal of helping its grantees become stronger advocates for HIV prevention.
Youth Advocacy for HIV Prevention Research
The Global Youth Coalition on AIDS (GYCA) will 1) write an advocacy briefing paper on youth and HIV vaccine research; 2) create a factsheet on youth and HIV vaccine research; 3) identify a youth 'champion'/representative for the 2012 International AIDS Conference to be held in July; 4) develop a long-term, transparent process for recruiting and engaging youth champions to advocate for HIV vaccine research; 5) develop and facilitate an E-course on youth, HIV and new prevention technology and 6) identify a facilitation consultant to help facilitate the E-course along with GYCA staff.