Promoting the role of presenters in raising awareness for students

The Provincial Women's Union provided training and guidance on organizing activities for the presenters of the "Leaders of Change" Club - Photo: VTH

Since 2022, within the framework of Project 8, communication models for changing behavior on gender equality (GEC) have been strongly deployed. The Provincial Women's Union has directed 4 clubs in A Doi, Huong Hiep, Linh Truong and Vinh Khe communes. To date, the Provincial Women's Union and 5 districts in the project area have established 29 "Leaders of Change" clubs.

Accompanying the Club is a core group of presenters - dedicated, prestigious teachers who understand the local culture and language. Most of them are Team Leaders, who have many skills to lead collective activities. In addition, this group is always focused on thorough training by all levels of the association to improve their capacity and knowledge to lead community communication activities, give talks at schools and actively participate in forums on gender equality, competitions, performances, and exchanges on many topics such as: preventing and combating domestic violence; preventing and combating child marriage, incestuous marriage; preventing and combating drugs...

After more than 3 years of implementation, the Provincial Women's Union has organized 4 training conferences to guide the establishment and operation of the "Leaders of Change" Club, improving the capacity of more than 200 specialized officials at district and commune levels, presenters of the Clubs and related sectors; 7 communication campaigns at the "Leaders of Change" Clubs in 3 communes of A Doi, Huong Hiep, Linh Truong, with 900 participants; 10 training courses to promote knowledge about gender equality for more than 665 students of secondary schools in Huong Hoa and Dakrong.

The Women's Unions of the districts also organized many training courses to improve the skills of leading and managing the activities of the "Leaders of Change" Club for the facilitators; organized exchange programs between the "Leaders of Change" Clubs at the district level; organized communication campaigns on gender-based violence prevention, drug prevention, and child marriage prevention at schools with "Leaders of Change" Clubs...

“Organizing a group activity is not difficult for presenters, but talking about how to change the children's awareness and motivate them to become community propagandists is not easy. However, after many training sessions and especially when accompanying the children to prepare for the communication sessions, I understand that I am not alone. If I do it with my heart, the listeners will accept it,” said Tran Thi Huyen, Head of the “Leader of Change” Club of Huong Hiep Secondary School, Dakrong District.

To be able to take on the role of a leader, the presenters undergo training courses on presenting skills, group management, and handling communication situations, organized by the Women's Union in coordination with professional organizations. In addition to theory, they also participate in field activities, learn from each other, and receive feedback to improve their approach. Many presenters design their own games, write scripts for skits, and integrate content into class activities to help students receive them naturally and actively share.

As one of the clubs selected by the Provincial Women's Union to establish a model in Quang Tri province, the "Leader of Change" Club of A Doi Primary and Secondary School, Huong Hoa district has created a routine of activities, helping students develop many necessary skills. The club meets periodically once a month.

Before each session, the facilitator orients students on the topic of each session. From there, students learn and expand information, raise awareness around the following contents: Gender Equality; prevention and control of violence against children, school violence, sexual abuse, injuries; learning about adolescent reproductive health care; consequences of early marriage, incestuous marriage; behavioral skills in cyberspace,...

To make the activities more exciting, engaging, and interactive, students can participate in activities such as group discussions, games, seminars, drawing, and drama. Teachers also encourage and support students to create their own media products to promote on social networks or participate in competitions within the framework of Project 8 organized by the Women's Union at all levels. After that, the club members themselves will be propagandists, conveying this knowledge to a large number of students in the school during flag-raising and class activities.

Thanks to the participation of a team of teachers - presenters who are close to and prestigious in the community, the message of gender equality has penetrated into every classroom, every village meeting, every family meal. The club has contributed to equipping students with a lot of useful knowledge and skills to help young people be confident, prevent and respond to gender-based violence, form life skills, thereby being able to be independent in making appropriate decisions, especially helping them identify their roles and responsibilities in participating in solving issues related to children. Many students have become active factors in propaganda work in the locality.

The success of the presenters cannot be separated from the connecting and supporting role of the Women's Union at all levels. From selection, training, to supervision, technical support and creating a practice environment, the union has become a reliable support for presenters to develop their capacity. In addition, the close coordination between the union at all levels, schools, local authorities and foreign organizations has created an effective and sustainable community communication network, helping the messages of Project 8 penetrate deeply into life.

“The teachers who are members of the “Leaders of Change” Clubs have pedagogical qualities, prestige, responsibility, and enthusiasm, so they are very suitable to be leaders. We just need to “give them wings”, create opportunities, accompany them, and trust them to become pioneers and companions in propaganda work in the locality”, said Chairwoman of the Dakrong District Women’s Union Nguyen Thi Ty.

Vo Thai Hoa

Source: https://baoquangtri.vn/phat-huy-vai-tro-dan-trinh-vien-trong-nang-cao-nhan-thuc-cho-hoc-sinh-193674.htm