Transforming Perspectives: Mr. Abasi Ramadhan Omari's Journey From Misconception to Advocacy for Sexual Reproductive Health and Youth Empowerment
As a board chairperson for Mavovo Secondary School in Mkinga District Council, Mr Abasi Ramadhan Omari was one of the participants in the Kijana Jitambue gatekeepers training.
During the teaching, all participants were educated about youth engagement and sexual reproductive health, gender-based violence, and encouraged to stimulate open discussion with adolescents.
As a school board chairperson Mr Abasi has a wider platform to meet and engage with the public but, he decided to firstly change the mindset and behaviour of his Form Four son.
“My son had poor results in his academic performance but, after spending some time talking to him and understanding what he was going through as an adolescent boy, I encouraged open discussion with him and, emphasised the need to improve his lifestyle by firstly staying away from risky behaviours and fighting off sexual urges with the bigger aim of focusing on his studies and improve his performance. Using friendly and close conversation with him, I am now seeing some improvement in his academics. He’s now involved in productive discussions, educating his peers on the importance of self-protection and currently, he’s a member of Mavovo Fema Club where he continues to learn and practice life skills and improving his healthy lifestyle.”
To Mr Abasi, the training he received, capped with his frequent participation in the in-school Kijana Jitambue trainings at Mavovo Secondary School makes him believe that Fema Clubs have influenced many adolescents to pay attention to reproductive health issues, whilst equipping young people with the essential life skills, including communication and problem- solving skills that will help them to solve their challenges and opening pathways for their development.
“I was amongst the men who always believed that sexual reproductive health education was solely for women and girls. I never paid attention to it as a man and a father to my son. However, during the training proceedings, I realised that I was completely wrong and to be honest, that training made me realise sexual reproductive health education is essential to both men and women, girls and boys hence, it changed my perception and immediately gave me a sense of responsibility within my family.”