PaLiwanag
South Central Mindanao, Philippines | Advocates for Healthy Adolescents | 2023
Mabuhay!
We are Advocate for Healthy Adolescents (AHA), a group of young student-journalists on a mission to make sure every child grows up healthy and happy. Our work is currently based in General Santos City, South Central Mindanao.
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18 - 23 years old
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The Right-Sized Problem
In our city, a lot of teenagers are becoming parents too early. We have noticed that young people, from 10 to 19 years old, feel uncomfortable talking about Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights, especially about growing up and changes in their bodies. They also feel uneasy going to the local health center, especially if they are making choices that might not be safe.
What did we do?
While there are other factors that contribute to the rising incidence of teenage pregnancy, we believe that health education can make a huge difference! So we launched the PaLiwanag campaign, where we set up information booths in General Santos City National High School, Calumpang High School and Cahilsot Elementary School.
Our youth volunteers provided pamphlets that talked about ASRH in a mix of English and the local dialect, Bisaya, making it easier to read for the students. These were also designed with bright and fun colors too!
Our booths became spaces for youth to feel safe and secure, and encouraged them to get more information from their health centers. Those manning the booths facilitated conversations with them and even used props like a mini spin-the-wheel to answer questions about Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health. We then spread the word through social media and print, influencing more adolescents to visit their health centers.
Campaign Impact
We immediately saw the effects of our school booths – 292 adolescents visited the health centers a month after we held the campaign! Plus, a health center in Calumpang health centers went up to a Level 2 accreditation for being adolescent-friendly.
We also had amazing support from partners like the Department of Health, the Youth Affairs and Development Office of General Santos City, the City Mayor’s Office, and the Department of Education. Our campaign launch was filled with encouraging messages from our senators, Risa Hontiveros and Bong Go, and broadcasted by PIA SOCCKSARGEN, Brigada News TV, and News for the Youth.
Our volunteers rallied together and successfully navigated the intense planning for the campaign while studying for the final exams! They were dedicated to advocating for their fellow youth, showing how they inspire change not only in our barangay but in the whole city! , At the end of the day, our campaign’s success is real proof of the potential and power of young people coming together for the same cause.
Impact in Numbers
292 youths visited the Rural Health Unit the month after the campaign
14,482 people engaged online
1,342 children engaged
Words from our participant
"MY OVERALL EXPERIENCE DURING THE CAMPAIGN WAS GREAT.
I GOT TO KNOW FELLOW YOUTH THAT ARE STRUGGLING IN ACCESSING THEIR SEXUAL REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS AND IT MADE ME REALIZE THAT HAVING THIS KIND OF CAMPAIGN IS REALLY ESSENTIAL, ESPECIALLY IN THIS TIME THAT TEENAGE PREGNANCY IS BEING RAMPANT IN OUR COMMUNITY."
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