Learning Through Play: Helping Young People Understand Their Health

For many young people, understanding puberty, menstruation, and reproductive health can be challenging, particularly when misconceptions and stigma make these topics difficult to discuss. Without accurate information and supportive conversations, natural changes in the body can become sources of embarrassment, teasing, and discrimination.

Recognising the importance of age-appropriate health education, FundLife International is using its Futsal for Development approach to help young people build knowledge, challenge misconceptions, and develop greater respect for themselves and others.

On October 17, 2026, FundLife engaged young people from its partner schools in Dulag, Leyte, in play-based learning sessions covering puberty, menstrual hygiene, reproductive health, Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), and sexually transmitted infections (STIs).

Through discussions and activities suited to their age groups, young people explored topics connected to personal care, informed choices, and respect for others. Play provided a way to introduce sensitive subjects and connect health information with situations they may encounter in their daily lives.

The sessions covered practical hygiene habits, common misconceptions about puberty and menstruation, and the importance of privacy and support. Including girls and boys in these conversations encouraged shared responsibility for creating an environment where changes in the body are treated with understanding rather than teasing or shame.

• 

• 

• 

Discussions on HIV and STIs addressed transmission, prevention, testing, and responding to peer pressure. Interactive futsal activities, group challenges, and role-playing encouraged young people to consider how reliable information can guide their decisions and help them challenge discrimination against people living with HIV.

One notable moment came during a discussion on HIV and Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS), when a young participant explained the distinction between the two to fellow participants. This demonstrated the participant's understanding of an important health concept and created an opportunity for peer-to-peer learning.

These lessons reflect FundLife's broader approach to education, where sport provides opportunities to develop life skills alongside knowledge. Through structured play and guided reflection, young people practise communication, teamwork, and decision-making while discussing issues relevant to their health and wellbeing.

The sessions also emphasised the importance of knowing when and where to seek support from trusted adults, recognising that access to reliable information and guidance is an important part of growing up.

By bringing health education into its Futsal for Development sessions, FundLife is helping make sensitive but essential conversations more accessible to young people in Dulag. The initiative reinforces the role of play-based learning in supporting informed choices, challenging stigma, and promoting respect among young people in their everyday lives.