OZAMIZ CITY, Misamis Occidental (December 2) — Five new school-based teen centers opened this week in Ozamiz City, giving young people more safe spaces to seek guidance, learn about their health, and build resilience amid rising challenges faced by adolescents in Northern Mindanao.
Launched on Nov. 26 at the Ozamiz City Central School, the centers are part of the BRAVE (Building Resilient and Aware Voices for Empowerment) Project of Jhpiego Philippines and DepEd Ozamiz City Division. The new hubs—located in Ozamiz City Central School, San Antonio NHS, Jose Lim Ho NHS, Tabid NHS, and Labinay NHS—bring the total BRAVE-supported teen centers in the city to 10.
Each center passed a Level 1 assessment earlier this month, earning accreditation during the unified launch attended by teachers, students, local officials, and partner agencies.
Funded by Olivia Rodrigo’s Fund for Good, the BRAVE Project has grown from a simple youth-centered initiative into a movement that blends health education, mental well-being, and climate awareness.
A community answering a regional need
Northern Mindanao remains among the regions with the highest adolescent pregnancy rates in the Philippines. In 2023 alone, the PSA logged 10,895 cases. Many young people say they struggle with limited information, fear of judgment, and the absence of a trusted adult to turn to.
The teen centers aim to fill these gaps by offering confidential counseling, peer educator support, and youth-friendly information on reproductive health, mental well-being, and climate challenges—issues that often overlap in the lived experience of learners.
Through a partnership with ASSIST Asia, schools are also using the Master of Disaster board game to make climate education fun and community-centered.
Students finding strength in safe spaces
For many learners, these hubs are more than rooms—they are lifelines.
“Before BRAVE, I didn’t know where to ask questions without feeling embarrassed,” said Grade 9 student Jireh R. Cervantes. “Now we have a place where we can talk openly and feel ready for challenges at school and at home.”
Arlene Via of DepEd Ozamiz City said the centers were designed so learners feel “welcome, understood, and supported,” noting that many teens carry silent worries about school, relationships, and their future.
Jhpiego Philippines’ Dr. Ingrid Magnata added that BRAVE works because partners believe young people deserve “safe spaces and honest conversations.”
Strong partnerships, stronger youth
The launch gathered partners from the Department of Health, Misamis Occidental provincial offices, POPCOM Region X, and local government units. Their support has helped schools expand services and ensure students are linked to the care they need.
As BRAVE continues to grow, its mission remains the same: to help young people feel seen, heard, and empowered.
In Ozamiz City, learners are showing that when given the right support, their voices can shape healthier, more hopeful communities.
