James Kon
The Brunei Darussalam AIDS Council (BDAIDS Council) conducted talks on their HIV Awareness Programmes for Peers and Youth (HAPPY) at St James’ School and Institute of Brunei Technical Education (IBTE) School of Aviation as students began their higher education studies.
Thirty-one Year 9 and 10 students at St James’ School attended the talk as part of their school awareness programme, while some 132 IBTE School of Aviation students participated as part of their orientation programme.
Project coordinator of HAPPY Siti Kailene binti Mohd Jazlan Kashfi delivered the talk at St James’ School, while President of BDAIDS Council Iswandy bin Ahmad delivered the talk at IBTE School of Aviation.
They shared the latest statistics on STIs and teenage pregnancy in the country by highlighting age and gender that dominate the statistics.
They also told the students that the figures can be curbed by applying abstinence to prevent youth from getting involved in behaviours that lead to the contraction of STIs, getting pregnant out of wedlock, or early marriage.
Also present were volunteers from the HAPPY Team.
HAPPY is a youth-led project that promotes HIV awareness. It aims to deliver its message to young people in a way that has been adapted to the local context.