<![CDATA[Adolescents are a group vulnerable to various risky behaviors, including substance abuse and actions that increase the risk of HIV transmission. Islamic boarding schools or pesantren offer significant potential for fostering healthy lifestyles by empowering students to act as agents of change and peer educators. Therefore, it is essential to strengthen the student’s knowledge, resilience, and leadership skills to support the creation of a healthy boarding school environment. This activity aimed to enhance the student’s knowledge and capacity regarding substance abuse and HIV prevention, while also preparing them to serve as resilience-based health advocates. The event was held at the Hidayatullah Al-Muhajirin Islamic Boarding School in Bangkalan, East Java, involving 30 male and female students accompanied by school administrators. The methods employed included interactive presentations, discussions, and Q&A sessions covering topics such as substance abuse, HIV and its transmission, resilience, healthy living, and the roles of health advocates and peer educators. Pre-tests and post-tests were conducted to evaluate changes in the participant’s knowledge. The participants demonstrated great enthusiasm throughout the activity, actively engaging in discussions, answering questions, and sharing their opinions. Evaluation results showed an increase in average knowledge scores, indicating a positive shift in knowledge levels following the educational session. This program is expected to serve as a starting point for developing a group of adolescent advocates capable of providing peer education and fostering a healthy, positive environment within the Islamic boarding school.]]>
