Summary Report on Puberty
SUMMARY OF THE SESSION
The session was designed to help the pre-teens and teens understand the impact of physical and emotional changes that occur during puberty including reproductive health and the range of experiences that may happen to young people. To Identify the anatomy of genitals including scientific and slang terminologies commonly used.
Session Delivery
The session started with a review of the previous session. One of our project volunteers, Miss Omasan Eyikimiaghan, anchored the book review session with two participants reviewing the books they borrowed during the previous session. One of the children, a young boy, told us about a new word he learned – ‘hardship’. Miss Omasan then explained clearly the meaning of the word hardship using clear and easy to understand examples.
Participants during the session
The other child, a young girl, shared her lessons from the book she read, “it is not right to judge a book by its cover”. Her explanation focused on not addressing people the way they are dressed. Miss Omasan provided further meaning to the phrase to enable better understanding by citing several examples.
Mr. Emmanuel Fregene led the next phase, focusing on “Leaders are Readers”. He encouraged the children to read more books to broaden their horizons, improve their vocabulary and engage in any relevant conversations that could improve their literacy skills.
Miss Itse Mirabel Ukubeyinje took up the discussion on puberty with the children. This was a good time to inform them about the physical and hormonal changes boys and girls would experience as they approach puberty. She educated them about the importance of puberty in the journey from childhood to adulthood, especially with body changes.
Miss Itse explained to the participants that puberty is a natural part of growing up. She further explained that each child’s development and pubertal changes occurs at a different period and speed, making each person’s puberty experience unique.
It was an interactive session between the Itsekiri NextGen team and participants, especially with some of the participants now at the puberty stage with our participants around the age range of 8 to 14 which is the same stage puberty begins to occur in pre-teens and teens.
Females are more likely to experience it earlier than their male counterparts. Some possible signs of puberty in both the boy and girl-child were extensively discussed as well, with easy examples referenced during the discussion.
Other Key Activities During the Session
As it is now the norm, the participants borrowed books to read, and they would be reviewing the books at the next session.
