Feature Articles

Sex Education in the City- A Guided Tour for Youth

Ref Number: ESEAOR201606

  • Date1 Jun 2016
  • Category FPA Message
  • Targets Students Youth
  • AuthorN/A
  • Topic Sexuality Education, Health Knowledge

To support IPPF’s Vision 2020 Day of Action on Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) and youth rights held on 18 May 2016, a half-day guided tour targeting young people aged 16 to 26 years old was held on Saturday 21 May 2016. A total of 16 youth participants visited two agencies providing sexual and reproductive health services for people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHAs) and young women facing unplanned pregnancy. Besides, a “condom-making” workshop was arranged in the Association for participants to enhance their knowledge of safer sex and awareness of protecting own sexual health.

Hong Kong AIDS Foundation

The participants were introduced with the route of HIV transmission and a demonstration of HIV antibody rapid test. Two service clients of the Foundation were invited to share their lives living with HIV, which impressed the participants very much. As HIV/AIDS is now becoming a chronic illness, the participants realized that acceptance and respect were important for the people living with HIV/AIDS to fight against the disease. They learnt that the most reliable way to know whether one is infected with HIV is to conduct a HIV antibody testing after window period.

Pregnant Girls Services, Mother’s Choice

The participants were introduced with the services for the pregnant girls such as hotline, in-person counseling, parenting training and residential hostel services. Two young mothers came to share the difficulties and happiness they encountered when facing unplanned pregnancy. The participants were more aware that peer support empowers mothers to live positively, and young mothers deserve to receive non-judgmental services and support in decision making as well as parenting.

A condom making workshop

The participants were instructed to create a latex condom and test its strength. They learnt about the size and thickness of the condom and the importance of lubricants in safer sex. The proper way to use a condom was demonstrated and discussed. The interesting experiential learning process desensitized participants from talking about safer sex and touching condoms.

At the end of the program, participants gathered and shared their reflections on comprehensive sexuality education and youth rights. The participants found the tour insightful and were more aware of the youth sexual health services available in the community. They also expressed that knowledge on sexual and reproductive health is essential and important for the well-being of the youth, and comprehensive sexuality education will help them identify their own values, empowering them to lead their lives according to these values and to act responsibly.

Through sharing of participants’ reflections on FPA Facebook page, it is expected to arouse public awareness on comprehensive sexuality education and youth rights among our 2000 followers of Facebook and their friends.