GRPA holds outreach for youth on healthy lifestyles campaign

The Guyana Responsible Parenthood Association (GRPA) is holding an outreach on its ‘Youths Promoting Healthy Lifestyles’ campaign today at the City Mall, as it seeks to increase awareness about the initiative and services available for young people.

The outreach will he held from 10am to 2pm, the GRPA said in a release yesterday.

According to the GRPA, ‘Youths Promoting Healthy Lifestyles’ campaign, being implemented under the theme ‘Respect your body, Protect your body,’ is part of the activities being held to mark International Youth Day, to be observed on August 12.

The campaign aims to equip youth with information and education to make wise choices regarding healthy bodies, healthy sexual relationships, family planning and contraceptive methods.

A three-day youth camp, supported by the Caribbean and North American Council for Mission, is also scheduled from August 15 to August 18 and will include young persons from Jamaica, Grenada, Trinidad and Tobago, the Dominican Republic, Cuba and Curacao.

The release said that youth will be motivated to promote good practices through stories/ testimonies, drama, music and education in ‘sexual and reproductive health and rights’ and will develop a public campaign to promote healthy lifestyles.

GRPA also announced that Deandra (Bobby) Walker, a youth intern, has been awarded the status of GRPA Youth Ambassador as a result of her outstanding work in promoting sexual and reproductive health and rights and her contribution to the advancement of the Association’s youth work.

Rev Patricia Sheerattan-Bisnauth, the Executive Director, stated that young people must be supported to take leadership on critical issues facing the nation, such as preventing violence and the erosion of human values.

She was quoted as saying, “In light of the recent acts of violence seen in the media, GRPA believes the ‘Youths Promoting Healthy Lifestyles’ campaign will help with eliminating violence and motivating people to take action against such acts of violence.”