Insights from the Young and Safe Bootcamps at Taviefe Senior High School —118 Students Empowered

The Young and Safe Project under the Healthy Cities for Adolescents Program – II held a two-day Young and Safe bootcamp at Taviefe Senior High School on August 24th and 25th, 2024, bringing together 118 students to equip them with tools to manage their well-being proactively on sexual reproductive health, mental health, and cyber health.

Mrs. Mary Anyomi, the Technical Coordinator at the Ghana AIDS Commission led the session on sexual reproductive health. Mrs. Anyomi expressed concern about the increasing reliance of young adolescents on social media for sexual reproductive health information, which has led to a significant number of poor decisions and 6,144 teenage pregnancies in 2020.

“Abstinence is the best way to protect yourself—make informed choices about your sexual health”,  Mrs. Ayomi emphasized.

Miss Kendall Mantey led the second session on puberty, a confusing and challenging phase. She explained the physical and emotional changes and encouraged students to embrace growth. Building on this Mr Albert Gharbin tackles the importance of healthy relationships. Fostering positive and supportive interactions with friends, family, or romantic partners is essential. 

The mental health session by Mr. Joseph Gyeedu from Ho Municipal Hospital. He discussed the common factors that can impact mental health, including stress, substance use, and relationship issues. “It’s okay not to be okay”, reminding the students that seeking help is a sign of strength, not weakness, was his message.

The final session of the bootcamp focused on cyber health. The students learned about online safety and responsible technology use. The discussion highlighted the importance of being mindful of the content they consume and share online, and strategies to protect their privacy in the digital world.

 “With this education, I learned that unusual behavior may be due to stress or anxiety rather than mental illness. This has taught me to be more compassionate towards those who may be struggling and also to practice abstinence from sexual-related activities, said Edith a student who participated in the bootcamp”.

 

The Young and Safe Bootcamps at Taviefe Senior High School underscored the importance of education in fostering a generation of young people who are aware of their challenges and equipped with the resources to overcome them.

Young and Safe Bootcamps at Taviefe Senior High School —118 Students Empowered

About the Young and Safe Project:  

The Young and Safe project is a three-year initiative that aims to address key issues such as youth participation in city governance, sexual and reproductive health, mental health support, creative self-expression, and digital employment opportunities. The initiative aims to develop an inclusive and supportive community for young people in Ho, Volta region, Ghana by leveraging the capabilities of each partner. The Young and Safe project will also increase young people’s employability by helping them build their digital innovation and entrepreneurship competencies. Read more. 

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