The Provincial Government of Cotabato, through the Provincial Governor’s Office–Population and Gender Development Division (PGO-PopGAD), opened on Wednesday a three-day “Sexually Healthy and Personally Empowered Adolescent (SHAPE-A) Camp” aimed at equipping young people with essential life skills and knowledge.
The camp, held at The Basket inside the Capitol Compound in Amas, gathered high school students from various municipalities across the province.
According to the provincial government, the activity seeks to prepare adolescents to become informed, responsible, and empowered individuals, particularly in matters concerning sexual and reproductive health.
It added that the initiative also aims to help participants better navigate the physical, emotional, and social challenges that come with adolescence.
Governor Emmylou T. Mendoza underscored the importance of discipline, faith, and completing one’s education. She encouraged the youth to stay focused on their goals and make responsible life choices.
“𝙄 𝙝𝙤𝙥𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙙𝙤 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙗𝙚𝙨𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙮 𝙤𝙣 𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙘𝙠, 𝙜𝙧𝙖𝙙𝙪𝙖𝙩𝙚 𝙤𝙣 𝙩𝙞𝙢𝙚, 𝙧𝙚𝙢𝙖𝙞𝙣 𝙂𝙤𝙙-𝙛𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙜, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙗𝙚𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙚 𝙖 𝙙𝙞𝙨𝙘𝙞𝙥𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙚𝙙 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙥𝙤𝙣𝙨𝙞𝙗𝙡𝙚 𝘾𝙤𝙩𝙖𝙗𝙖𝙩𝙚ñ𝙤,” Mendoza said.
The camp features a series of modules designed to deepen participants’ understanding of themselves and their relationships. These include discussions on “Changing Bodies,” “Changing Feelings,” “Changing Relationships,” and “Having a Safe, Healthy and Happy Adolescence.”
Mendoza said she is hopeful that through SHAPE-A, the province can nurture a generation of well-informed and resilient youth capable of making sound decisions for their future.(photo by WMSamillano
