Charity launches teen pregnancy prevention campaign

WEDNESDAY, MAY 2: Teen Services is joining forces with the National Teen Pregnancy Prevention Campaign in observing May as Teen Pregnancy Prevention Month.

A proclamation ceremony will be held today at Teen Services (next to Fort Hamilton) at 12:30pm.

Teen Services is a local charity that provides comprehensive service to at-risk females including pregnant teens and teen mothers, while the Teen Pregnancy Prevention Campaign is an internationally recognised campaign. The Teen Services programme offers counselling, community prevention outreach services, and transitional housing. The aim of the campaign is to increase public awareness of teen pregnancies while emphasizing the importance of a strong partnership between the community and families in helping young people to both recognize and avoid at-risk behaviours. These behaviours include premature sexual activity, unprotected sex and drug/alcohol abuse.

The aim of the campaign is to help young people make wise choices and, in return, reduce the rate of teen pregnancy.

Teen Services will launch the campaign by having May proclaimed as Teen Pregnancy Prevention month.

The agency is inviting the public to a brief ceremony, which includes the proclamation, information on teen pregnancy in Bermuda, as well as music by Heritage Nursery and
Preschool.

The public is also invited to tour the Teen Services/Teen Haven facility.

In addition, Teen Services will be holding its annual Tag Days on Friday, May 11 in the City of Hamilton and Saturday, May 12 in the rest of the parishes.

It will launch a Teen Pregnancy Prevention Denim Day on Friday, May 18, 2012 and is asking the business community and the Middle Schools to assist in raising funds in aid of enhancing the campaign.

There will be an information booth at Harbour Night on May 16 and 30, 2012. Teen Services has a long history in addressing the needs of Bermuda’s at-risk girls. Countless young people have transformed themselves from dropping out of school, being pregnant, and/or being homeless to gaining meaningful life experiences, such as completing high school, receiving a college education, housing, and employment. More importantly, those clients who were mothers were able to establish a safe and stable environment for their children.

Research shows that leaving issues unaddressed amongst at-risk girls perpetuates a continuous, vicious cycle of academic failure, teen pregnancy, gang violence, and drug abuse.

• Anyone interested in getting more involved as a sponsor, particularly for the Teen Pregnancy Prevention Denim Day or as a volunteer, should phone 292-4598 or email [email protected]