AIMED at creating a more supportive campus environment, the SBCA Bedan Peers visited different programs among the Tertiary Schools by introducing its PrePEERS and PEER-Up initiatives from July 20 to 24. The initiative equipped freshmen with peer support services and promoted mental health awareness.

Through “PrePEERS—Campus Preparation with Peers,” the organization introduced freshmen to its services and the Counseling and Career Development Services (CCDS). It also provided mental health crisis hotlines and encouraged students to seek support to help reduce the stigma surrounding mental health.

The PEER-Up initiative, guided by the acronym SARAP (Striving for Success, Academic Improvement, Resolution-Making, and Apathy Challenging), encourages academic growth through peer mentoring while fostering collaboration, social interaction, and a supportive learning environment.

The 30-minute program, which comprised both the PrePEERS and PEER-Up initiatives, began with an introduction to the organization before proceeding to interactive pairing activities. Students were paired with classmates they were not yet close with and participated in games and conversations designed to encourage meaningful connections and strengthen peer support.

In an interview with THE BEDAN HERALD, Bedan Peers President, Hannah Mores (III-BSP), shared that the program is designed to reach out to students and remind them that no burden is too heavy to bear alone.

“PEER-Up is not only about improving academics but also developing healthy boundaries and friendships with one another. Both mentors and mentees are meant to grow together.”

Mores also encouraged students to uphold Bedan values by supporting one another and fostering a campus community rooted in compassion, respect, and mutual care.