Quality tools to build the capacity of educational staff & empower teenagers to live their sexuality and affectivity safely and positively with the aim to prevent gender-based violence (GBV) through an intersectional & trauma-informed Comprehensive Sex Education (CSE) approach.
Context
Still pervasive in Europe (EC, 2022), GBV including teen-dating violence are rooted in harmful social norms and stereotypes that reinforce unequal power relations among genders. CSE can play a central role, as a long-term solution, in empowering young people and eventually in lowering the risk of youth suffering from, perpetrating or standing by violent behaviours.
LoveAct responds to the lack of CSE programs around Europe and the consequent need to equip young people, families and educational staff with knowledge, skills, a network and means to prevent GBV from an early age, while preparing the ground for healthy relationships to flourish.
Objectives
- To produce, co-create and systemize educational, informative and networking tools on CSE that are high-quality, evidence-based, intersectional, trauma-informed and appealing to multiple targets, including teenagers, families and educational staff.
- To build the capacity of educational staff to address issues related to GBV, stereotypes and norms among teenagers through the delivery of CSE programmes.
- To empower teenagers to build safe and healthy relationships and improve their well-being through CSE.
- To increase awareness in the general public around the need for more and better CSE for teenagers and its potential to prevent GBV.
Activities
- Creation, of a Love Act section containing educative, informative and networking tools on Sex-Ed within The Gender Talk online platform.
- Mapping of existing practices and materials available on CSE for the prevention of GBV, with a focus on intersectionality.
- Institution of a Sex-Ed Council in each partner country and organisation of Local Forums.
- Co-creative activities involving teenagers and families aimed at exploring their personal stories and memories with regards to affectivity and sexuality.
- Co-creation of CSE guides to be embedded within The Gender Talk platform.
- 4-day international Joint Staff Training Workshop in Greece for partners and experts, aimed at acquiring methodologies, approaches, activities and tools on CSE.
- 4-days national Capacity Building workshop for educational staff per partner country.
- Local implementation of 30-hour training for students in schools.
- Co-creation workshops for designing one European cross-generational and cross-cultural awareness raising campaign.
- Organisation of national School Festivals.
- Final European Symposium.
Resources
- “Love Act” section on The Gender Talk platform, including a Map of Best Practices, Resources Database, Awareness Campaigns and a F#%Q Book on CSE.
- Roadmap assessing adolescents and families on Sex-Ed, through the LoveAct Memories & Voices.
- Sex-Ed Digital Guide and Teachers’ Guide.
- National Capacity Building for teachers and educators – Feedback Book.
- Local Implementation of the Love Act Sex-Ed programme – Feedback Book.
- Love Act Local and International Manifestos.
Impact
- Increased availability of CSE educational and informative tools that are quality and evidence-based, sensitive to intersectionality and trauma and accessible to a wide audience including teenagers, families and educational staff.
- Increased capacity of families and 200+ educational staff to cover topics related to sexuality and affectivity with teenagers in a tailored, informed, supportive and positive way.
- Improved chances for well-being, possibility to build safe and healthy relationships free from GBV, and empowerment in supporting each other for living their sexuality in a positive way for the 1000+ young people.
- Increased awareness in the general public at the local, national and international level around the need for more and better CSE for teenagers and its potential for GBV prevention.
Partners
- CESIE (Italy, coordinator)
- Elan Interculturel (France)
- Symplexis (Greece)
- DDG (Lithuania)
- The Square Dot Team (Belgium)
- CSI (Cyprus)
- Intered (Spain)
- UPV/EHU (Basque Countries)
