What does intergenerational dialogue mean? How can we link it to the topic of a comprehensive sexual education?
As suggested by the term itself, the aim of this approach is to improve contacts between the different generations and ensure that all groups can benefit from the mutual exchange of opinions and idea. This will help reduce prejudices and promote intergenerational respect and solidarity.
The new CESIE project ISEX – Integral Sexual Education and Empowerment in Schools, focused on the promotion of a comprehensive sexual education, is built upon this methodology.
Among the project’s activities, ISEX aims at starting an intergenerational dialogue on sexuality and affectivity, by addressing to high school students and by involving parents, grandparents, and families.
Resorting to playful and self-reflection activities, several topics related to the sexual sphere will be introduced within the classes, to raise awareness among the students and to promote a healthy lifestyle and to prevent any form of violence and of gender violence.
To “break the ice”, in November and December the ISEX staff visited several high schools in Palermo. Students have been asked about the frequency and efficiency of the sexual education they had received so far, both at school and at home; while the ISEX staff started identifying the topics and circumstances related to the sexual sphere that may represent “changes” among the different generations.
Divided into groups, classes of “Benedetto Croce”, “Educandato Maria Adelaide”, and “Ernesto Basile” debated love, family and love relationships, taboo and scandals, misunderstandings, and misinformation. From the beginning, students managed to create a space safe: we witnessed to an exchange of opinions and idea, without any prejudice nor judgement.
Students got involved in the activity and expressed their doubts and concerns to the trainers, and they shared their personal and familiar experiences.
“To my grandchildren, I would say that they can talk about everything, that they don’t have to feel ashamed. I hope that by the time I will have grandchildren, things will be changed, that society will be more open-minded, and there will be no scandal in talking about sexuality or relations”.
Comment of a participant
Afterward we asked them: “Who would be willing to ask the same questions within the family?”. Students have been invited to take over the role of reporters and question their own families, by finding the time, in front of a cup of tea, to open a dialogue with parents, grandparents or other family members.
Some students have enthusiastically accepted the challenge, while others were concerned: “We have never talked about that! I do not know if my parents are willing to do that!”
In the end, it was an opportunity for all to break down the barriers that make the family dialogue on sexuality and affectivity challenging, or in some cases an opportunity to further explore such topics.
“There is a clear difference among the three generations of my family: it is meaningful, and it makes me reflect”.
Comment of a participant
In the upcoming months, the project’s partners will collect the different testimonials, that will be published online, in the so-called “Book of Love generations”. Stay tuned!
Are you interested in the project and in its activities?
For further information contact: francesca.barbino@cesie.org.
About the project
ISEX – Integral Sexual Education and Empowerment in Schools is co-financed by the Erasmus+ Programme of European Union under KA2 – Cooperation for innovation and the exchange of good practices, Strategic Partnerships for school education.
Partners
- Kelet- Magyarországi Közösségszolgálat Alapítvány (Hungary, coordinator)
- CESIE (Italy)
- SYMPLEXIS (Greece)
- In Touch (Netherlands)
- Nevelok Haza Egyesulet (Hungary)
- Mozgáskorlátozottak Egymást Segítok Egyesülete (Hungary)
- CSAT Egyesulet (Hungary)
For further information
Read more about ISEX and follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Linkedin.
Contact francesca.barbino@cesie.org.
