Drama, dance, presentations and group activities were all on the agenda at last month’s health promotion workshop in Kiribati.

Two Family Planning health promoters travelled to South Tarawa to run a six-day course, training community leaders in aspects of sexual and reproductive health.

“We delivered an intensive and fun event designed to help the people who know their communities best, take the right messages back to their target groups,” said Gisborne Health Promoter, Geoff.

The health promoters ran a programme which included lots of group activities, drama performances, and presentations from the groups.

By the end of the six days, the participants had each created a plan for a workshop or event to run back in their community or for their organisation.

The 18 participants included executive members of local churches, youth workers, lecturers from the School of Nursing and the Teachers’ College, and representatives from the Ministry of Health, the Students’ Association of the University of the South Pacific and the Marine Training Centre.

The participants’ main focus is to teach their communities about STIs and testing, healthy relationships, and reducing unplanned pregnancies.

Whangarei Health Promoter Kylie, said the number of participants was a great increase from previous years.

“People really want to be part of the work the Healthy Families Taskforce is doing. It’s something they really value.”

The participants came from South Tarawa, as well as six outer islands; Abaiang, Abemama, Aranuka, Butaritari, Marakei, and North Tarawa.

For Family Planning’s Health Promoters, it was a unique and exciting experience to visit the island and work with the group. “Kiribati was an amazing place, I would go back in a heartbeat,” said Kylie.  “The people of Kiribati were what made this special for us both.”

Family Planning’s International Programmes unit will provide ongoing support for the participants as they continue to plan and hold their events.

Family Planning has been working in partnership with the Kiribati Family Health Association since 2012 on the Healthy Families Project, funded by the New Zealand Aid Programme.