KHPT organised five engaging public workshops in Mysuru between January 11 and February 12 to explore issues related to the health and well-being of adolescents in vulnerable urban areas under the project “Ambassadors for Change,” supported by Prithviraj Productions. The workshops aimed to identify ways to empower adolescents as key resources to engage with their ecosystem in these vulnerable urban geographies through a participatory process.

The workshop was conducted in two phases. In the first phase, stakeholders such as adolescent girls and boys (aged 11–19), parents of adolescents, teachers from government and private schools, healthcare professionals such as Health Inspecting Officers (HIOs), Primary Health Care Officers (PHCOs), Anganwadi Workers (AWWs), and ASHAs, as well as members of community structures like Mahila Arogya Samiti (MAS) and the Urban Health Sanitation and Nutrition Committee (UHSNC) participated. The second phase focused on specific groups within these stakeholders. 

The workshops included group discussions and brainstorming activities, where participants shared their insights and experiences regarding challenges adolescents face, such as mental health, education, social pressures, digital literacy and safety, substance abuse, and sexual and reproductive health. The goal was to identify these pressing issues and brainstorm and develop solutions to foster a supportive environment for adolescents. Using insights from the workshops, KHPT will develop a comprehensive implementation framework to enhance operational effectiveness. This framework will include a detailed implementation and training curriculum to equip members with the necessary knowledge and skills to perform their roles efficiently and effectively.

“Ambassadors for Change” is a project that will empower adolescents as local leaders and resources to advocate for their well-being and drive structural and normative change at the community and systems level in urban settings.