A group of motivated young health advocates from the Youth@Work internship programme is undergoing a three-day refresher training in Honiara, to help them fight non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in schools.
The group, known as the “NCD Warriors, consists of 18 young people from Phase 5 and 6 of the Youth@Work programme, who are willing to reach out to schools and involve students in fighting NCDs.
Sherol Maezama is a phase 6 intern, who decided to become an NCD Warrior so that she could live a healthy life, as well as to encourage others to do the same.
“I want to join this group because it will help me in making the right decisions to live a healthy and longer life that will have a positive impact on my family and community,” Sherol Maezama said.
Training facilitator and NCD health adviser for the Secretariat of the Pacific Community’s (SPC) Public Health Division, Jessie Pullar, said that the training would equip the youth with the right skills and knowledge to go out and empower schools.
“The NCD Warriors will teach students about the dangers of NCDs and how to avoid them by eating healthy food,” Jessie Pullar said.
“The three-day training will help the Warriors to understand their health and the health of the school children they are reaching out to and let them design their own active ways to engage with the students through games and other interactive fun activities.”
The NCD Warrior training started on Monday 16 February, at the Youth@Work compound, National Art Gallery, and will conclude on Wednesday.
Youth@Work is implemented by SPC, in partnership with the Solomon Islands Ministry of National Unity, Peace and Reconciliation, the Ministry of Commerce, Industries, Labour and Immigration, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, and the Ministry of Women, Youth, Children and Family Affairs. Youth@Work is an initiative to tackle youth unemployment in the Solomon Islands and is funded by the Australian Aid bilateral program, with assistance from its partner ministries.
For more information about Youth@Work call +677-25278, email [email protected], or visit Youth@Work on facebook.
