Project Hope promotes safe sex
Sarah Evans
Mesa Community College takes a stand for the importance of education in the lives of young students in Ariz.A grant was recently given to the center-for-service-learning at MCC to sponsor Project HOPE, which stands for Healthy Outcomes through Prevention and Education.
This project was implemented by members of MCC’s student Honor Society, Phi Theta Kappa (PTK), along with several teachers.
Lexi Harvey, a PTK officer and student at MCC, explained what Project HOPE is.
“It is a way to educate college students here at MCC about preventing unplanned pregnancy in a positive way,” she said. “We give people resources and inform them of places they can go in case they face an unplanned pregnancy.”
Project HOPE’s website stated that part of college dropout rates, as well as public health and social challenges, stem from unplanned pregnancies.
“The goal of the grant that center-for-service-learning received is to keep students in school, to encourage them to finish their education, and then plan a family when the time is right,” Harvey said.
She and fellow PTK officer, Heather Thomas, believe that education is critical.
Thomas stated that educating young students about safe sex and healthy relationships is crucial, having been a teen mother only now fulfilling her educational dreams.
“Many people are not aware of their birth control options or the importance of birth control all together,” she said. “Many people also don’t know who to talk to when an unplanned pregnancy occurs.”
PTK officers and members including Harvey, Thomas, Tiffany Wilson, and Carla Mannes have taken major strides toward reaching out to MCC students and the Ariz. region.
“We have had tables outside of the Kirk Center passing out sex quizzes,” said Harvey.
The quiz assesses how aware students are about safe sex, birth control, and family planning.
Thomas explained that a list of the events was posted on the Project HOPE website, and any participants are welcome.
“Me and my (computer information systems) teacher, Burton Borlongan, also plan on creating a video game to go along with the theme of education and success through family planning,” Thomas stated.
