UNAIR NEWS – Adolescence is a pivotal stage of development, often accompanied by heightened vulnerability to negative social and environmental influences. In response, students from Universitas Airlangga’s Learning with Community (BBK) 7 program, stationed in Barurejo Village, Siliragung Subdistrict, launched an educational campaign titled GEN-Z SEHAT & CERDAS.
The program was conducted at SMP Negeri 2 Siliragung on Wednesday (January 14, 2026), targeting all ninth-grade students as its main participants. Designed in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the initiative aimed to strengthen health literacy while enhancing the overall quality of education for adolescents.
Ninth-grade students were deliberately selected due to their position at a critical transition point before entering senior high school, a phase often characterized by increasing peer pressure and growing exposure to new and potentially risky experiences.
Advancing SDG 3: Physical and mental well-being
The activity was delivered through interactive outreach sessions and face-to-face presentations, reflecting a concrete effort to advance SDG 3 on Good Health and Well-Being. The focus centered on promoting healthy lifestyles and preventing the misuse of narcotics and other illegal substances.
The educational materials covered both the dangers of drug abuse and key aspects of reproductive health. The student facilitators emphasized the close link between substance abuse and impaired self-control, which can increase the likelihood of engaging in risky sexual behavior.
“We provided comprehensive explanations about reproductive health, the risks of sexually transmitted infections, and the long-term damage drugs can cause to the brain and a young person’s future. Our goal is to help students at SMPN 2 Siliragung develop strong personal resilience,” said Mona, the program’s coordinator.
Strengthening future through quality education (SDG 4)
In addition to health education, the initiative also supported SDG Goal 4 on Quality Education by offering students insights beyond the formal school curriculum. The sessions highlighted how early marriage during school years can perpetuate cycles of poverty and increase the risk of children being born with stunting.
Students were also trained in self-management techniques and refusal skills, reinforcing the importance of assertiveness and the ability to decline peer pressure that could lead to unsafe sexual behavior or drug use.
As a lasting outcome, the BBK 7 team produced educational resources in the form of printed leaflets and simple digital content. These materials were formally handed over to the school to ensure continued access to reliable health information for students after the community service program concludes.
Author: Ahmad Abid Zhahiruddin
Editor: Khefti Al Mawalia
