On 29 April, Adopt-a-School Foundation hosted a Health, Sanitation and Sexuality Education workshop for Grade 8 learners at Meriti and Boitekong Secondary Schools in the North West. The project is funded by Merafe Resources,. This workshop is part of an extensive three-year social welfare project, funded by Merafe Resources. With this support, new cohorts of learners have been receiving guidance and empowerment every year.
The project aims to educate and empower teenagers (both female and male learners) in schools to make informed sexual relations to curb teenage pregnancy in schools. The programme involves learners as active participants with the support of educators, parents, and relevant stakeholders within the community.
Facilitated by peer educators (who are school learners) under the supervision of the Foundation, eight workshop sessions were held at both schools. The topics included self-awareness, values, peer relationship, communication skills, puberty, sexuality and teenage pregnancy. To date, 775 Grade 8 learners have attended the workshops. The learners consist of 250 males and 224 females from Meriti Secondary School; and 170 males and 131 females at Boitekong Secondary School. The workshops equipped the Grade 8 learners with positive values and life skills to make well-informed and healthy life choices.
Further, through this project, Adopt-a-School Foundation provided sanitary pads to these schools for female learners to access when in need. Deodorants are provided for vulnerable boy learners who the school identifies. As part of the project impact assessment, a register for the distribution of sanitary pads is kept for records and statistical purposes. In May and June, over 100 girls were provided with sanitary pads each month at both schools, and 117 boys received deodorants.
