Chisinau, 3 September - The Center of Excellence in Light Industry from Chisinau started the New School Year with a first lesson about healthy behaviors in adolescence and personal and professional realization. More than 150 girls and their parents, from several localities of the country, were involved in the discussion about right choices and decisions for life, assertive communication, and prevention of violence, abuses and unwanted pregnancies. This information will help students perform better at school and thus increase their job readiness.

“The majority of our students are girls from the rural areas. Many times, they face unpleasant life situations, such as abuses, unplanned pregnancies; they even give up on studies. We need to inform students and parents about prevention of these risks. If they know how to behave in different life situations and make right choices for future, then they will have a better professional realization as well,” noted Alexandra Raeţchi, the vocational school director.

The public lesson was organized by youth volunteer network ‘Y-PEER Moldova’ in partnership with Ministry of Education, Culture and Research and UNFPA, resuming the ‘Health Education - My Right, My Choice’ campaign, initiated in spring of this year.

The campaign informs the communities and schools, including vocational education institutions, about health education, safe behaviors and the right of young people to realize their full potential by avoiding   risks and harmful practices.

“UNFPA supports the Ministry of Education, Culture and Research to provide quality health education, both in general and vocational schools, to help teenagers and young people avoid risks and realize their full potential. Especially when parents are abroad or young people are far from home, the role of school is extremely important to educate girls and boys to become healthy and positive citizens”, Ludmila Sirbu, UNFPA Programme Analyst on Youth mentioned.

The ‘Health Education - My Right, My Choice’ campaign also includes other information and awareness-raising activities at the local level, public discussions about healthy lifestyles and youth development with parents, teachers, community leaders, social theater plays presented by young people, events organized in general and vocational schools.

The campaign is part of UNFPA Moldova ‘Promoting Youth Health Education’ Project, with the support of the Embassy of the Netherlands in Bucharest, in partnership with the Ministry of Education, Culture and Research, Partnerships for Every Child, Y-PEER Moldova and PRO DIDACTICA. The activities take place in 22 localities from 5 districts: Chisinau, Cahul, Rezina, Falesti, Orhei.