Samuel Lutaaya

Peer Educators and Counselors Club (PECC) members paid a visit to Nova Pioneer Boys High School to mentor students on issues to do with bullying, substance abuse, and relationships. Speaking to over 150 students in Grades 7, 8, and 9, as well as those in Forms 3 and 4, PECC members reaffirmed the important role mentors play in the psycho-social development of adolescents as they transition from childhood to adulthood. Mentorship among peers is especially important because peer influence has the potential to shape the mental and physical well-being of an individual.

While the same topics were covered in each class, PECC members approached each differently according to the age groups of the students that they were speaking to. Pairs and trios of club members engaged students in the different streams by first taking part in various ice breaker activities in order to ease tension and build rapport followed by open and honest conversations surrounding the day’s topics of discussion. The nature of these conversations allowed PECC members to offer their perspectives and share insights with the students. Club members were pleasantly surprised by the level of self-awareness that the high school students possessed and were impressed by their ability to articulate themselves confidently on a semi-public platform. Each discussion concluded with a question and answer session in which students asked questions to the PECC members outside the purview of bullying, substance use, and relationships. These sessions allowed club members and the Counseling Department to better understand areas that the students maybe struggling with.

The Counseling Department at Nova Pioneer High School expressed gratitude towards the PECC members for their efforts in helping their students navigate challenges that are faced by adolescents in high school. The perspectives offered by the students during the mentorship sessions highlighted the need for long-term mentorship throughout their tenure in high school.

Mentorship sessions such as these give PECC members the opportunity to sharpen their soft skills while also helping young people grow into healthy and meaningful members of society. This proves the university’s efforts to build strong partnerships and to be of service to the community. The Peer Educators and Counselors Club looks forward to more collaborations with other institutions in the future.