Provide primary health care for street children

Driven to be responsible youths of the community, Childhope Philippines’ Junior Child Rights Advocates underwent a 3-day Peer Education Training on STI-HIV/AIDS prevention and gender equality last September 6-9, at Tahanan Sta. Luisa, Antipolo, Rizal.

About eighteen new Junior Child Rights Advocates participated, led by Childhope’s Assistant Executive Director, Ms. Helen Quinto, and with Mr. Ralph Ivan, President of Y-Peer Philippines as trainor.

The aim of the training is to strengthen the skills of the participants and to provide them with a basic knowledge on the current situation on HIV and AIDS in the Philippines, as well as interactive methods on how to improve their sensitization and counselling skills and how they can engage with their fellow youths during similar activities to create HIV awareness.

“The training will equip the advocates with knowledge and awareness about HIV, AIDS, and STI, and on child rights and gender equality as well,” Quinto said.

The training also focused on the different aspects of peer education and counselling prior to HIV testing as a first step to HIV prevention.

“In HIV prevention, we should be aware that testing is crucial to providing access to early treatment and care for people living with HIV and to protect those who are HIV negative,” Ivan said.

Childhope Philippines capacitates these youngsters to be more knowledgeable by providing them integrated education, and be more a responsible youth by sharing their learnings to fellow youth, family, and community.

Moreover, as part of Childhope Philippines’ holistic alternative education sessions, modules on STI-HIV/AIDS prevention, adolescent sexuality and reproductive health, as well as gender sensitivity and gender equality are conducted among older street children and youth.

Links:

• Pictures taken from the Peer Education Training of JCRA