Learning Beyond the Classroom
OZAMIZ CITY - The forum offered learners a space to talk about subjects that are often difficult to approach without clear and age-appropriate guidance. Rather than treating safety and well-being as separate concerns, the activity brought together sexual and reproductive health, disaster risk reduction, learner rights, life resilience, and mental health in one learning experience. This broader approach reflects the direction of Project BRAVE in Ozamiz, which seeks to equip young people with knowledge, confidence, and resilience while strengthening the support systems around them. Jhpiego’s 2026 account of the project also highlights the importance of creating safe spaces where Filipino adolescents can develop informed decision-making skills.
From Knowing to Making Safer Choices
For elementary learners, lessons about safety can become more meaningful when they connect with situations children may encounter at school, at home, or in their communities. The September 16 gathering encouraged participants to understand how knowledge can guide their responses when facing risks, emergencies, personal concerns, or difficult emotions. The Schools Division of Ozamiz City had already been advancing Project BRAVE through activities focused on learner rights and safe, inclusive, and resilient learning spaces, including a school-head orientation held in August. The new learners’ forum adds another layer by placing younger students directly in conversations about their own well-being.
A Bigger Conversation for a Younger Generation
The forum also shows how partnerships can bring specialized youth-centered learning closer to schools and families in Ozamiz City. Jhpiego identifies the BRAVE Project as part of its Philippines work and says the initiative is funded by Olivia Rodrigo’s Fund 4 Good, with efforts that include adolescent sexual and reproductive health, youth leadership, and resilience. Earlier in 2026, students and teachers in Ozamiz also participated in a BRAVE workshop to co-create information materials on mental health, sexual and reproductive health, and disaster preparedness, showing that the project has continued to develop opportunities for youth participation.
