The Youth Science Ambassadors (YSA) project, launched in 2021, has become a key youth engagement activities of OUCRU’s Public and Community Engagement Group. Becoming part of the project, young participants are empowered to lead, propose, plan, and execute their own initiatives addressing specific issues they identify themselves.
During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021, YSAs produced a series of mental health podcasts to address challenges young people faced during that difficult time. In 2022–2023, recognising barriers to accessing global health publications—either due to academic complexity or lack of awareness—YSAs developed the Collab Lab project. This initiative animated published research from OUCRU and partner institutes, making academic publications more accessible and understandable. Collab Lab achieved impressive success, gathering hundreds of thousands of views, and has been continued with a new young team.
This year, the YSAs have launched an ambitious project called “Protect Us From Tetanus” (PUFT). PUFT aims to bridge the gap between public knowledge and the severity of tetanus—a dangerous yet preventable disease that often goes overlooked.
Why is Tetanus?
This project was born out of alarming statistics and a clear need for community education.
A study by Dr Nguyen Thanh Phong, Spealist II, Head of the Infectious Department D, Hospital for Tropical Diseases, revealed that out of 152 adult tetanus cases admitted from January – June 2016, only one patient had been vaccinated against the disease(*). Moreover, a survey by the YSAs found that tetanus ranked second to last among infectious diseases of concern for young people.
Protect Us From Tetanus Activities
The PUFT project includes a number of activities designed to engage relevant segments of the community:
- For patients and carers: Hospital Health Talks
Partnered with doctors at HTD and OUCRU, YSAs conducted a informative session to spread important information about tetanus prevention and treatment.
- For young people and the wider public: Forum Theater
Continuing with the interactive and engaging approach, the YSAs team plan to use forum theater to educate the public about tetanus. This method allows for active participation and helps in delivering the message visually and effectively.
The performance is also digitalised, aiming to reach an even wider audience.
Collaboration and Support
OUCRU’s Public and Community Engagement Group offered essential training to build young people’s capacity, including communication skills, project planning, execution, and reporting skills.
Key strengths of the YSA project are its collaborative and proactive nature. Young people from YSAs are empowered to take action themselves, from working closely with OUCRU’s Emerging Infectious Group and the Public and Community Engagement Group to identify knowledge gaps and develop their own strategies.
To stay updated on the progress of the PUFT project and other initiatives by the Youth Science Ambassadors as well as Public and Community Engagement group, follow OUCRU’s official website and social media accounts.
Reference:
(*) https://tuoitre.vn/uon-van-tang-vi-chu-quan-1309170.htm
