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Empowering young people in Malawi through health quizzes
Posted by Khanyi Khuzwayo 
on
08 July 2024, 14:55
SAST
The winners—Likuni Girls Secondary students with their trophy
FutureLife-Now! contributes to the development of healthy and empowered young people who can lead responses to 21st century challenges, including those related to health and education. The programme achieves this through innovative—and sometimes fun—activities, such as competitions and quizzes.
In February and March this year, FutureLife-Now! Malawi ran three interschool health quizzes in six of the programme schools: Likuni Girls Secondary vs Lilongwe Girls Secondary, Bzyanzi Secondary vs Madisi Secondary, and Katsekaminga Community Day vs Mchisu Community Day.
While the focus was on promoting sexual reproductive health and rights (SRHR), HIV&AIDS information and mental health—crucial for preventing new HIV infections and for addressing life challenges—another purpose was to promote interactions among students, allowing them to engage and share SRHR and HIV information in a familiar and fun setting. During the quizzes, members of the competing teams and students in the audience engaged in thoughtprovoking discussions on wide-ranging topics such as antiretroviral treatment and adherence, cervical cancer and sexually transmitted infections, and mental health and gender-based violence. At the end, the “quiz masters” consolidated the learning by summarizing the key points.
In total, 1 421 FutureLife-Now! students took part, with 23 teachers from all six schools providing support. Although of secondary importance, the winners of each debate were Likuni, Bzyanzi and Katsekaminga. Participating students from both winning and runner-up schools spoke warmly about the experience: This was both entertaining and educational. For instance, I learnt that if someone contracts sexually transmitted infections and does not receive prompt treatment, they can become infertile. Susan Binali (Katsekaminga Community Day Secondary) I am very pleased with this quiz because I acquired information, especially about HIV testing. I am certain that my friends have also benefited. I am now ready to visit the hospital and access the services I need.
Part of the audience at the Likuni–Lilongwe debate
Teachers and education officials also praised the events. For example, Emily Mkangala, the School Health and Nutrition teacher from Bzyanzi Secondary, stated, It is wonderful that students and teachers alike have gained a lot from this quiz. I particularly appreciated the quiz master’s valuable summaries on the topics. I am confident that learners who had limited information on HIV and ART have been assisted.
Jean Chimbiya, the deputy head teacher at Likuni, was also impressed with the quiz master’s management of the large audience, composure and knowledge, and stated that the events greatly benefited the students and the teachers.
Finally, Ethel Luhanga, Chief Officer from the Ministry of Education, acknowledged the valuable contribution that FutureLife-Now! is making in providing students with information on SRHR and HIV. She too commended the well-organized and engaging quiz competition.
These fun health quizzes have equipped students with important information. Which schools will be up next?
“We are all winners”: the teams from Lilongwe (blue) and Likuni (maroon)
