Mahintana Foundation, Inc.

In its endeavor to inform and educate the youth and the general public on STI/HIV/AIDS, Polomolok STI/HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control Council, in partnership with Mahintana Foundation, Inc. (MFI), Dole Philippines, Inc., and the Reproductive Health Youth Based (RHUB), conducted the Peer Counselors and Facilitators’ Training last April 26-28, 2010 at Sunrise Resort, Lake Seloton, Lake Sebu, South Cotabato.  This activity aims to equip the participants with knowledge and skills on Adolescent Reproductive Health and enable them to become effective peer counselors in their school and community.  Four (4) teachers from Polomolok National High School in Cannery, who are also members of RHUB, served as Resource Speakers for the 3-day training.  The training was attended by three (3) Guidance Counselors and 27 high school students coming from three (3) public national high schools namely, Polomolok National High School, Poblacion Polomolok National High School, and Bentung-Sulit National High School.  These trained peer counselors will become advocates of the youth and other students towards being responsible adolescents on Reproductive Health, disseminating information on topics such as the harmful effects of the practice of pre-marital sex with either single or multiple partners, drug abuse leading to early teenage and unwanted pregnancy, drug addiction, abortion, and possible transmission of STI/HIV/AIDS.  The training was a follow-through of the Peer Educator’s Training conducted to the same participants last May 2009 at Durian Garden, Atbp.

On the first day of training, participants reviewed their knowledge about reproductive system, including an exercise on the identification of the different parts of the male and female reproductive physiology, definition, importance, and the different elements of reproductive health.  The participants had fun while matching the definition with the elements of reproductive system, at the same time, learning about the topics.

Activities on the second day include discussions on the duties and responsibilities of Peer Educators and its protocol; Characteristics of an effective Peer Counselor; Principles and ethics of Counseling; and counseling skills.  Having the knowledge about Peer Counseling, the participants were tasked to analyze case studies and present the lectures through Counseling Demonstration.  The day ended with a preparation for the Demo-Lecture on STI/HIV/AIDS wherein selected participants would give lecture to co-participants.  This would serve as the final evaluation of the Peer Educators’ readiness to give STI/HIV/AIDS Orientation before the youth as well as the public.

On the third day, eight (8) senior students presented their lectures while at the same time demonstrating strategies in capturing the attention of the audience.  After the successful execution, the facilitators assigned the students to give Orientation on STI/HIV/AIDS and RHUB to the high school principals and SK members on June 2010.  The said activity aims to lobby for the school heads to replicate the RHUB in their schools and for SK members to replicate the same in their respective communities, while at the same time, seeking to increase additional funds for the program.  The activity ended with an Action Planning for each school with focus on the Recruitment of new members, Information; Education; Advocacy and Awareness Campaign to other students on Adolescent Reproductive Health.