“You have the power to say no” – Minister urges students to resist peer pressure

…as Sexual and Reproductive Health Symposium concludes

Education Minister Sonia Parag on Saturday urged students in Bartica, Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni), to resist peer pressure and make independent choices, warning that behaviours such as vaping and alcohol consumption can lead to addiction and have a negative impact on health, education, and future opportunities. She made the remarks as the Ministry of Education and Ministry of Health, in partnership with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), and other United Nations (UN) agencies, concluded a two-day Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) Symposium at Bartica Secondary School, Region Seven. The initiative, now in its second year, concluded after two days of interactive sessions with dozens of secondary school students.

The exercise, which commenced on Friday brought together students and education stakeholders from Bartica Secondary and Three Miles Secondary schools. Centred within the national Health and Family Life Education framework, the initiative focused heavily on student empowerment, providing safe, structured spaces for young people to openly discuss puberty, menstrual health, teenage pregnancy, gender-based violence and healthy relationships. Parag attended the symposium and challenged students to understand the biological realities of their development while building deep internal resilience against negative societal pressures.

Adolescent development
Addressing the core theme of adolescent development, the Minister demystified the emotional and physical changes young people experience, explaining how internal biological changes directly influence their daily well-being. “It is vital for both our young men and young women to understand that as you grow, your body undergoes profound chemical changes,” Parag explained, adding that “these internal shifts happen within the brain and across the body, directly contributing to your emotional, psychological and physical experiences. This is a natural biological process that you cannot stop, but understanding it is the true beginning of your self-confidence and personal identity.” The Education Minister also issued a strong warning about the dangers of peer pressure, specifically highlighting harmful habits such as vaping and alcohol consumption, which she said can lead to life-altering addictions that undermine health, education and future opportunities. “You do not need to be cool by giving in to peer pressure,” she stressed. “If you think vaping looks cool, you may want to vape. But how many of you understand that you have the power to say no to certain things? No one needs to be like someone else and destroy their own body. How many of you know that all of these things can turn into an addiction?” As part of the Government’s plan to address adolescent health and long-term well-being, Parag briefed students on the dangers of the Human Papillomavirus (HPV), how it spreads and the fact that the virus is the primary cause of cervical cancer, one of the leading causes of death among women worldwide. She noted that the disease is preventable through vaccination and highlighted that the Government of Guyana provides the HPV vaccine free of cost to protect young people before exposure.
“When we started administering vaccines in different parts of the country and screening women, we discovered that many women had pre-cancerous cells,” Minister Parag explained. “But with that vaccine, you can stop that from progressing. It’s important for our young people to know.”

Institutional support
Turning her attention to institutional support, the Minister emphasised that a lack of resources should never stand in the way of a child’s right to education. She praised the ongoing national menstrual hygiene initiative, noting that the First Lady’s menstrual hygiene programme, which began by raising funds and donating sanitary napkins, particularly to girls in hinterland communities, has been so impactful that the Government has now formally integrated and budgeted for it. She said this commitment ensures that the programme not only reduces period-related absenteeism but also promotes good health and hygiene among adolescent girls. The Minister also linked menstrual health to the broader fight against gender-based discrimination and violence, arguing that young men must be active and supportive participants in the conversation rather than contributors to stigma. “These are conversations that should be happening today and tomorrow because they are real and they are important.”
Parag encouraged students to look within themselves for motivation and to always speak up and ask questions. “Looking outside for motivation, you’ll never find it. Where does motivation come from? It comes from inside. If you rely on yourself and you want to be happy, make sure that you’re happy and not disappointed. Make sure you use your voice and ask questions. It doesn’t matter how silly the question may seem, ask it.”

“Period Walk”
As a high-visibility component of the symposium, students, policymakers and international partners took to the streets of Bartica for a public awareness “Period Walk,” marching through the town chanting, “Break the silence, stop the period shame!” to confront menstrual stigma and taboos. The forum concluded with participating students from both secondary schools signing an adolescent health empowerment pledge. The enlarged posters will be permanently displayed in the schools, serving as daily reminders of students’ commitments to making informed and positive health choices. The symposium received collaborative support from UN Women and the Pan American Health Organisation/World Health Organisation (PAHO/WHO), with vital funding and assistance provided by the Government of Canada.