Young people receive training to perform income-generation activities.
Yet most are navigating their way through adolescence without the benefit of information and services known to promote healthy sexual and reproductive behaviour. Since 1980 school students, drop-outs and young people who have never been to school have been given help with community development work, such as skills training, income generation, latrine building and literacy programmes, initiated through peer groups and youth leaders. This 'go-slow' approach has been used to gain the community's trust before embarking on more controversial issues such as sexual and reproductive health education. The Family Planning Association of Bangladesh is the only organization in the country to combine sexual and reproductive health education with skills and development training for young people. Traditionally, health and reproductive services have targeted married couples, leaving the health needs of young people largely ignored.