From: Femi Mustapha
The Hope for Communities and Children (H4CC) Initiative, in collaboration with the Kaduna State Ministry of Education, has made a significant move to enhance student safety and well-being by training 400 primary school stakeholders in Health and Well-being Education (HWE), also referred to as Family Life Health Education (FLHE).
This training targeted teachers, head teachers, guidance counselors, and Social Mobilization Officers (SMOs), equipping participants with essential life skills to address critical issues affecting adolescents.
According to Hadiza Umar, the Executive Director of H4CC, the aim of the training is to empower young learners with informative messages that will help them keep themselves safe, positively influence their peers, and make sound decisions in life.
The training covered a range of topics, including communication, assertiveness, refusal skills, negotiation, goal setting, and self-esteem.
Umar emphasized that this training is a necessary response to the many challenges adolescents face, particularly the misinformation surrounding how to address these issues effectively.
Hassan Dantawaye, the Head of Social Mobilization from Chikun Local Government Area, noted that the participants were engaged and eager to learn.
He remarked that while some lessons might not have been new to specific participants, the training deepened their understanding of the importance and benefits of these life skills.
Joseph Omoselu from Kaduna South expressed gratitude for the knowledge shared, stating that the skills acquired will not only benefit learners but also their families and communities.
Ibrahim Zakari, the FLHE Desk Officer for the Kaduna State Ministry of Education, highlighted the close relationship between school staff and learners, making them ideal conduits for conveying sensitive messages. Ruth Silas from the Kaduna State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) underscored the necessity of this education, citing concerns about learners engaging in drug use, sexual immorality, and those experiencing sexual harassment.
This training is part of a larger initiative aimed at training 1,300 basic school teachers across various Local Government Areas (LGAs) in Kaduna State.
The educators will return to their schools to conduct follow-up training sessions for adolescents, ensuring they are well-informed about their health and well-being and can lead better lives.
