OZAMIZ CITY, Misamis Occidental — Five new school-based teen centers were officially launched on November 26, 2025, at the Ozamiz City Central School, marking another milestone for the Building Resilient and Aware Voices for Empowerment (BRAVE) Project of Jhpiego Philippines and the Department of Education Ozamiz City Division. The ribbon cutting ceremony gathered teachers, learners, local government leaders, and partners who have been working together to strengthen the health and well-being of young people in the city.
The new teen centers are in Ozamiz City Central School, San Antonio National High School, Jose Lim Ho National High School, Tabid National High School, and Labinay National High School. These additions bring the total number of BRAVE supported schools with teen centers to ten.
The launch follows the successful assessment of the five new school-based teen centers on November 12, 2025. Representatives from the Ozamiz City Health Office, Adolescent Health and Development Program Coordinator of the Integrated Provincial Health Office of Misamis Occidental, and teams from the DepEd Ozamiz City Division took part in the onsite review. All five centers passed the Level 1 assessment and received their accreditation during the unified launch.
The BRAVE Project is funded by Olivia Rodrigo’s Fund for Good. What began as an act of generosity from a young artist has grown into a youth empowerment movement that connects health, climate awareness, and mental well-being.
A response to a regional challenge
Northern Mindanao continues to face one of the highest rates of adolescent pregnancy in the country. In 2023, the Philippine Statistics Authority recorded 10,895 cases in the region. For many young people, the lack of accurate information, a trusted adult to talk to, and safe spaces to ask questions leaves them navigating life’s biggest decisions alone.
BRAVE was designed as a more holistic response. The project builds young people’s confidence to participate in conversations about their health and their future. By combining reproductive health education, mental health support, and climate change awareness, the project recognizes that the issues young people face are connected and must be addressed together.
Teen centers as safe, supportive spaces
The school-based teen centers offer confidential guidance, counseling, and youth-friendly information for learners. Teachers, guidance counselors, and focal persons have undergone training in adolescent reproductive health, mental health support, and youth friendly care. A growing network of peer educators has also been trained to support their classmates and help make health information more relatable.
Through a partnership with the Asia Society for Social Improvement and Sustainable Transformation (ASSIST Asia), schools have also introduced the Master of Disaster board game, which makes climate education fun and encourages teamwork, empathy, and problem solving.
Voices from the partners
For many learners, the teen centers represent comfort and confidence. “Before BRAVE, I did not know where to ask questions without feeling embarrassed. Now we have a place where we can talk openly and where peers and counselors guide us. It helps us feel more ready for challenges in school and at home,” said fourteen-year-old Jireh R. Cervantes, a Grade 9 student from Jose Lim Ho National High School.
“These teen centers reflect our hope to give learners a place where they feel welcome, understood, and supported,” said Arlene Via, Senior Education Program Specialist for Social Mobilization and Networking of DepEd Ozamiz City Division. “Many of them carry worries about home, school, relationships, and their future. When they walk into these spaces, I want them to feel that they are not alone and that there are adults who genuinely want to help them grow,” she added.
“This work is possible because our partners believe that young people deserve safe spaces and honest conversations,” said Dr. Ingrid R. Magnata, Country Program Manager of Jhpiego Philippines. “When we invest in their health, their mental well-being, and their understanding of the world around them, we help build a generation that can make informed choices,” she added. “BRAVE shows what can happen when teachers, local governments, parents, and young people walk together.”
Partners working as one
The launch event brought together key partners that have contributed to the growth of BRAVE in Ozamiz City. These include the Department of Health, Integrated Provincial Health Office of Misamis Occidental, Ozamiz City Health Office, Commission on Population and Development Region X, Ozamiz City Government, and Provincial Government of Misamis Occidental. Their support has helped schools expand their services and connect students to the care they need.
As BRAVE continues to grow, its goal remains clear. Young people should not only be aware; but they should also be engaged and included. They should feel confident to speak, to lead, and to participate in shaping their future. In Ozamiz City, students are proving that when given support and space to grow, their voices can become a force for health, hope, and change.
