Youth Advisory Board

#TogetherWeAreSAMA

Project SAMA was centred on close collaborations with young people along with other stakeholders.  

The purpose of the SAMA Youth Advisory Board (YAB) was to ensure effective and successful delivery of the project’s main aims and interventions by listening to the views of young people to shape project decisions.  

We supported our YAB by getting to know them as individuals, helping them identify their strengths and learning about how they would like to contribute to the YAB. We identified any training and information needs they may have, and worked with them to ensure they felt supported. Our approach to the YAB was informed by the Global Consensus Statement on Meaningful Adolescent and Youth Participation and the World Health Organisation Toolkit for Adolescents Advocating Change. 

Our YAB provided members with the opportunity to meet other young people and share experiences, develop communication skills, increase their knowledge of adolescent mental health research, and learn in detail about Project SAMA to create change for young Indian adolescents.

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Our YAB Members helped Project SAMA by:

  • Providing insight and intelligence on youth perceptions, interests and needs during intervention co-production to ensure SAMA interventions were relevant and meaningful to adolescents.

  • Advocating for their emotional well-being in school, guiding the project across its three years ensuring that youth-led voice contributed to key decisions.

  • Providing input into key decisions, reports and events.

  • Leading some aspects of social media and other communications in the project, focusing on reaching other young people.

  • Supporting the film-making crew in youth advocacy.

Expectations of the YAB:

  • The board met at least on a quarterly basis. 

  • Frequent direct communication via a YAB WhatsApp Group. 

  • Meetings took place both virtually and in person in line with the COVID-19 regulations. 

  • The board were responsible for shaping how they work – They devised their own code of conduct, agreeing their approach to governing the research project ensuring it is youth-led. 

  • The board provided feedback and recommendations after each meeting. 

  • The board contributed to a written report at the end of each year of the research project. 

 
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Membership 

Project SAMA was guided by a diverse group of young people across gender, background, lived experience and geographical location.  

The board comprised of two groups (each consisting of 8-10 board members) of young people aged 14-17 years old; one group was be based in the Kolar District and the other was from Bengaluru Urban District. Collectively these two groups formed Project SAMAs YAB consisting of 16-20 members.

 
 
Project SAMA’s YAB Geographical Representation: SAMA Youth Advisory Board (16-20 members), Kola District Group (8-10 members, Bengaluru Urban District Group (8-10 members).

Project SAMA’s YAB Geographical Representation: SAMA Youth Advisory Board (16-20 members), Kola District Group (8-10 members, Bengaluru Urban District Group (8-10 members).

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Selection of YAB Members

The board members were appointed to their role, following careful consideration of the following:  

  • Is among people aged 14-17 years old. 

  • Has personal experience of mental health difficulties and/or service use; as a carer of someone with mental health difficulties or a genuine interest in matters relating to youth mental health. 

  • Lives in the cities nearby Kolar and Bengaluru Urban. 

  • Has the ability to listen to others and to express views in a constructive and considerate manner.  

  • Has the ability to work respectfully and effectively with people from diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences. 

  • Has good communication, organisational and time-management skills. 

  • Has the ability to be punctual and reliable. 

  • Is committed to maintaining contact with the Youth Participation Lead. 

 

Compensation 

All members of the YAB were remunerated, at Rs. 500 per meeting. In addition, travel expenses were reimbursed when in person meetings were permitted. Expenses were paid as pre-agreed.  

Timeline 2023 

  1. YAB re-recruitment 10/07/2023

  2. Deadline for board applications 31/07/2023 

  3. Shortlisting of applicants 31/07/2023 

  4. Interviews with shortlisted applicants 02/08/2023

  5. Final selection of SAMA Youth Advisory Board Members 04/08/2023 

  6. Contracting of Board members 04/08/2023 

 
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