T&D Correspondent

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oung women from the Orangeburg area recently gathered for a time of pampering by young men from local schools as part of Low Country Healthy Start's Cultural Awareness Tea, held at Thee Matriarch in Orangeburg.

Over tea and finger foods, the girls discussed social issues including peer pressure, self-esteem and the event's conversation topic, "You can't judge a book by its cover."

LCHS is a program designed to "reduce the rate of infant mortality and improve perinatal outcomes for women of childbearing age residing in Allendale, Bamberg, Hampton and Orangeburg counties," according to its Web site.

"One facet of our program consists of mentoring," said Virginia Berry White, program director. "As we do this, our desire is to assist in preparing young adults to be loving individuals, community organizers and productive citizens."

The discussion was moderated by Lamikka Purvis, a perinatal social worker with LCHS.

Reflecting on the phrase "You can't judge a book by its cover," several teens in attendance expressed their views on the topic in regard to teenage pregnancy.

"If you get pregnant as a teenager, most people begin to look down on you in a negative way," said Ribba Fogle, a junior at Orangeburg-Wilkinson High School. "Pregnant teenagers are always judged by the cover and not by the book."

After a decade of decline, teen pregnancy is back on the rise in Orangeburg.

The S.C. Campaign to Prevent Pregnancy says people have become complacent about keeping teens from getting pregnant.

"About 250 teenagers in Orangeburg County get pregnant each year," said Executive Director Forrest Alton.

According to statistics from 2007, more than a quarter of the girls have been pregnant before.

"The event is designed to make attendees aware of their value and worth," White said. "Our aim is to teach women about their culture, building future leaders and increasing communication."

Male servers Leon Pough, a freshmen at North High School, and Davian Jamison, a sophomore at O-W, said there is nothing wrong with being a gentleman.

"A lot of guys think being tough to females is cool and attractive," Pough said.

"The total objective is to allow attendees an opportunity to experience being catered to," White said. "And, at the same time, we want to teach young men the importance of treating women with dignity and respect."

In a closing discussion, White said that having high self-esteem is about having the right attitude for success.

LCHS has been in existence since 1997 and is supported by a grant from the federal Department of Health and Human Services. It is part of the S.C. Office of Rural Health.

The events sponsored by LCHS are for all ages and ethnic groups.

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T&D Correspondent Rodney Brown is a student in the Mass Communications Department at Claflin University. Discuss this and other stories online at TheTandD.com.

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