The Upper Corentyne Chamber of Commerce and Industry (UCCCI) has mounted three billboards to promote abstinence among school-age children in the Upper Corentyne area.
In a press release, the UCCCI said billboards were mounted on Tuesday adjacent to the Skeldon Line Path, Skeldon High and Tagore Memorial schools and they are part of an ongoing campaign to reduce “the ever more visible” early sexual activity among school children. “…[This] continues to affect and devastate many young lives in the Upper Corentyne and around the country,” it explained.
This billboard campaign was made possible through support from the United States Agency for International Development/Governance Enhancement Project (USAID/GEP).
In addition to the billboards, the wider awareness campaign includes an essay competition in primary and secondary schools, a debating competition between secondary schools, a dramatic presentation highlighting the issue, the creation and airing of two public service announcements, the production of an early sex prevention brochure and workshops that are planned for the target audience.
The Upper Corentyne schools targeted in this project are the Crabwood Creek, Skeldon, number 71 Massiah, Number 68 Primary and the Number 63 Primary schools. In addition to the above named school, the Skeldon Annex and Skeldon High schools were also targeted.
The UCCCI said it was grateful to USAID/GEP, the Association of Women Lawyers, Abbas Mancey, the Region Six Education Office, the Corriverton Town Council, the Numbers 52-74 NDC, the schools and the local community for their support in addressing this issue.
