The Ministry of Social Protection, Probation and Social Services Department has embarked on a campaign to raise awareness on the issue of teenage pregnancy and other related issues through the airing of a short film at Secondary Schools in Guyana.
Ms. Debra Joseph, Senior Probation and Social Services Officer.
“Hush” is the story of a school aged girl who comes from a middle income single parent household and is under the illusion of falling in love and having a good time. Her short period of “just having fun” comes crashing into turmoil faster than she thought it ever would, when she is faced with the challenge of teenage pregnancy, her boyfriend not wanting a child and abandoning her, depression and the choice of abortion; all while she is just about to write her CXC examinations. She has made some bad turns in life, and is now faced with a momentous choice which could either take her off course or put her life back on track.
This is the harsh reality of many young girls; a reality which the Ministry of Social Protection is currently highlighting Secondary school students. The aim is to promote positive and responsible choices among children still attending secondary school.
Students being enlightened.
It is one of the Ministry’s more proactive steps in its approach in dealing with the issue of teenaged sexual activity; specifically focusing on those who are still in the schooling system.
In a brief introduction Ms. Debra Joseph, Senior Probation and Social Services Officer, told the children “we want to help you make better choices, there is a time and a place for everything”. She encouraged the children to be patient stating “education helps to alleviate poverty; stay focused and when the right time comes everything will fall into place”.
Students from Forms One and Two of the North Georgetown Secondary School were the first batch of students to benefit from the outreach as the students came together in the auditorium to view the Caribbean film.