Promote health in 100 teens in Portland, Oregon

There is usually one moment when a volunteer with MIKE realizes the impact they have with mentoring youth. For Alison, it was during her presentation on vaccines and the COVID-19 pandemic. She volunteered this month to present on that topic when she saw the results of a student survey conducted by MIKE.

MIKE mentors coordinate lesson plans, presentations and activities based on the results of a student interest survey that asked youth what they were interested in learning and what careers they wanted to pursue. From those survey results, MIKE learned that students were most interested in mental health, skin care, COVID-19 and vaccines, and nutrition and physical fitness. Alison, who is working on her doctorate in pharmacy with Pacific University, was keen on helping youth understand viruses and how vaccines work in the human body.

She developed an engaging presentation to show how the body reacts to viruses and how our bodies respond to vaccines. Her presentation helped illustrate the processes of building immunity to clarify many of the misconceptions students had about vaccines. She and her fellow mentors then conducted discussions to provide the youth with opportunities to share their fears, concerns and questions.

“It simply starts with education on health, and education on access, and alternatives,” says Alison. “Lack of education and support in the health care realm is the first step toward addressing health issues.”

The students came prepared with lots of questions—from what’s in a vaccine, how are viruses contagious, to why do you get sick after a shot and how long will COVID last. Developing the presentation provided Alison with a unique opportunity to talk with youth, share information and support in better understanding about the pandemic, explore the impact it continues to have on health and the community, and how to distinguish viable information to make well-informed decisions.

The youth also discussed broader themes around health equity and how the pandemic effected some populations differently. The students listed lack of money, challenges with the health infrastructure and education as some of the factors perpetuating health disparities. The mentors helped guide the students toward potential solutions that they could use to advocate from themselves and their community to advance health equity.

MIKE is grateful for the support you and others provide so we can share information and resources with youth. By working with youth in the classroom, we are helping to build a more resilient generation toward healthier outcomes.

Links:

• MIKE Program website