Jeremy Oh, Country Manager of Chevron Malaysia, presenting a certificate for successfully undergoing FRHAM’s training to Juliana Oi, a trainer volunteer for the Caltex Body Works initiative

Chevron Malaysia Limited today launched the Caltex Body Works program on reproductive health for secondary school students as part of its 'Energy for Learning’ global initiative. The community engagement program aims to empower those aged between 15 and 18 years of age with reproductive health information and knowledge via workshops that will be conducted by the Federation of Reproductive Health Associations, Malaysia (FRHAM).

Participants will be selected from schools located in the following states – Selangor, Perak, Melaka, Terengganu, and Kelantan. FRHAM will work with its state associations to identify schools in areas which can benefit the most from the Caltex Body Works program, which will comprise a series of workshops held over the next eight months until October.

“The Energy for Learning global initiative supports learning-based programs that create opportunities for acquiring new knowledge. The Caltex Body Works program represents our belief that fuelling young minds with information and knowledge on reproductive health and diseases such as HIV/AIDS will shape them into healthy and responsible adults that can contribute positively to their communities and the nation at large”, said Jeremy Oh, Country Chairman, Chevron Malaysia Limited.

The Caltex Body Works program also includes sessions for school headmasters, principals and counselors to understand and experience the workshops for themselves. This will enable them to provide feedback and suggestions that can be used to customize the workshops to be conducted for their respective students.

 The launch of the program saw the presentation of certificates to youth volunteers from public universities in the Klang Valley who have undergone training on the workshop module. The activity-filled module comprises seven key concepts which include “Understanding My Body”, “Taking Care of My Health”, “We are Equal”, “Reproductive Rights and Responsibilities” ,“Me and My Values” and “My Friends and I”.

“According to the Malaysian Population and Family Survey done by the National Population and Family Development Board, about half of the adolescents in Malaysia have very limited knowledge on sexual and reproductive health, including HIV-infection. Programs such as Chevron’s Caltex Body Works will go a long way towards addressing this issue. FRHAM is more than happy to partner Chevron in empowering young Malaysians to enable them to make informed decisions concerning their reproductive health,” said Dr Kamaruzaman Ali, Chairman of the Federation of Reproductive Health Associations, Malaysia at the launch.

The workshop module was developed by FRHAM with funding by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). It is endorsed by the Ministry of Health, and the Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development.