The initiative dubbed ICARE, is on the theme: "Inform, Care, Act, Respect, Empower," and forms a major highlight of the SRC Week celebrations of the College held across four Basic schools in the Keta township.

The beneficiary schools included: Keta E.P Basic School and Keta A.M.E Zion Basic School, Keta R/C Mixed Basic School, and the OLA Girls Basic School.

The programme could reach out to about 300 pupils, mostly between the ages of 10 and 16 years, and focused on two key areas affecting young people, being menstrual hygiene, drug and substance abuse awareness.

The sessions were facilitated by a team of health educators from the Developers Net and Student Nurses at the Keta Nursing College.

The facilitators used age-appropriate language, visual aids, and interactive discussions to demystify menstruation, promote hygienic practices, and warn about the devastating effects of drug and substance misuse.

Madam Stella Ativue, a student nurse during an interaction with the Ghana News Agency said, their goal was to provide these young girls and boys with knowledge that could protect their future.
She said menstruation should never be a source of shame, and that with proper hygiene education, they could girls could be helped to build confidence and become healthy young women.

The drug and substance abuse segment also equipped the students with knowledge on hard drug abuse and its effects.
The facilitators used real-life stories and examples to highlight the consequences of addiction, peer pressure, and risky behavior.

Mr Mark Maniasah, a youth empowerment coach and a student, said "Young people need to understand that the choices they make today can shape the rest of their lives. This engagement is not just about information it is about inspiring change and building resilience".

The ICARE project received praise from both school authorities and local leaders, who lauded the collaboration for its impact-driven approach.

Madam Rejoice Geraldo, the Headteacher of Keta EP School, appreciated the initiative and emphasised the importance of such joint efforts.
She said "When communities, institutions, and youth groups come together, we can create lasting change. Empowering our adolescents is key to securing the future of Keta".

Mr Benjamin Tuduabor, the Keta NMTC SRC Organiser, described the initiative as one of the college's most meaningful social interventions in recent years.
He said as health trainees, was their duty to extend their knowledge beyond the walls of lecture halls, stressing that ICARE was a call to action and they were proud to have answered it.

The success of the outreach has generated calls for expansion to more schools beyond the Keta Townships and the organisers hinted that a follow-up phase would be held later in the year, with plans to incorporate topics such as teenage pregnancy, gender-based violence, and mental health.

As the students returned home with the education and renewed confidence, the message of ICARE remained relevant to them, they are more likely to become agents of positive change in their communities.