TEENAGERS from Coventry’s Positive Youth Foundation have filmed videos for their peers stressing the importance of Covid testing when they return to school and college.
The whole digital creative process has been executed entirely by young people in a partnership with Coventry City Council, which helped support production.
Filmed as a Youtube vlog Ava’s four-minute video ‘I Finally Took a Covid-19 test’ follows the teenager going for her very first Covid test. “It wasn’t as bad as I thought it was going to be,” she said urging others to do the same. “We want our summer!”
Cormac Whelan, Positive Youth Foundation’s programmes manager said: “These videos come as part of a series of Covid-19 social action campaigns led by young people and are a brilliant example of how young people are taking positive actions towards their own and other people’s health.”
The two videos, one filmed in English, one in Arabic with English subtitles – aim to demystify the testing process while allowing younger people to understand the importance of how regular testing will help everyone get back to a more normal way of living and stay safe.
Simon, one of the other teenagers featured, said: “It was a strange experience getting tested for the first time but hopefully by sharing my experience, other young people won’t feel so nervous about getting a test if they want to.”
View Savio and Simon’s video here:
Regular testing at one of the seven community test centres across the city aims to help to find otherwise undetected cases.
Leader of Coventry City Council, coun George Duggins added: “Positive Youth Foundation can reach young people and key communities in a way the city council can’t.
“Community testing is a tool that will help to eventually get Coventry to a better place, so it’s very important that young people understand the benefits of getting tested regularly.
“The dedication of the young teams that have put these videos together and their support to want to help and encourage other young people in the city during this challenging time is fantastic.”
Community testing is for anyone who lives or works in Coventry and is not showing symptoms of coronavirus. There is no need to book an appointment. Opening hours at the centres are Monday – Friday: 8am to 6.30pm; and Saturday and Sunday: 10am to 3pm.
Anyone with any of the main COVID symptoms should not attend a community test site, but instead seek a test by dialling 119 or go here.
