By Ogar Monday
A Non-Governmental Organization, Best Minds Initiative (BMI) has begun a Catch Them Young (CTY) outreach program for secondary school students in Cross River State with the aim of tutoring them on personal hygiene and fundamental human rights.
Two out of the ten (10) series of event have been organized with students of Government Technical College Calabar the latest in the series held last weekend.
The program will aid the children prepare for what is out there, and help them make healthy decisions about their lives now said Mr. Kelvin Ude, the Chief Executive Officer of the organization in his address.
Mr. Ude said the NGO also runs a referral and counseling program, with students who have cases of any form of abuse, harassment and personal problems with their lives, properly referred to and counseled as the case may be.
A speaker at the event, Barrister Eno Iyamba while lecturing on the topic; “You and your rights,” told the students that, as young people they have rights which are bestowed on them and should not be taken away.
The rights according to him include; right to religion and thought, right to movement, right to dignity, amongst others, but that these rights are not immutable and can be taking away if necessary by the law.
On hygiene, Sharon Frank from Second Chance Initiative who spoke on menstruation told the children that “menstruation is a beautiful thing” and that girls should be proud and happy when they start seeing their periods.
She shared some hygiene tips with the students and encouraged the boys to learn more about menstruation as they will someday become husbands and fathers to children who menstruate if they are not already brothers to girls who menstruate.
Another speaker, Mr. Collins Ibor, advised the students to stay away from negative peer pressure, gangstarism and other social vices, as it has been proven over time that these don’t pay. He charged them to work hard and read their books and it will just be a matter of time before their dreams become reality.
Over one hundred students attended the event which is organized in partnership with WESSA Pharmacy.
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