Gender/SRHR

The problem

Eastern and Southern Africa count 158 million young people between 10 and 24 years old – expected to rise to 281 million by 2050. That is a booming potential of young people on their way to contribute to family, local and national welfare and economic development. But along the way, they encounter many challenges related to their sexual reproductive health and rights (SRHR): early and unintended pregnancy, HIV and sexually transmitted infections (STIs), gender-based violence, and child marriage. These seriously undermine education opportunities, especially for girls, and affect future health and opportunities.

Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE)

Edukans has developed specific curricula for comprehensive sexuality education (CSE) which address children,  adolescents, and young people in primary school,  secondary education, and vocational  training. The  curricula contain lessons on individual growth, relationships,  children’s rights, sexuality and love, prevention of HIV, STI’s and unintended pregnancy, and harmful  traditional  practices like early marriage. The curricula always  conclude with a lesson that invites for informed decision making: ‘My future, dreams and plans’. To enhance the effect of CSE in schools, Edukans adds components of parenting and referral to youth friendly health services (YFHS), to increase the empowerment of young people to make healthy and informed decisions on their SRHR. When introducing a CSE to a new country, Edukans adapts the content of the curriculum, based on the actual needs of the target group. Edukans and our master  trainers in the countries we work in, train teachers to  become skilled CSE facilitators, not only by introducing the  content  knowledge on SRHR, but also through training on  participatory  teaching techniques, which invites students in discussion and the development of attitude and skills on SRHR. The teacher training encompasses  modules on gender  responsive pedagogy, as to create a lesson  environment in which girls have the same  opportunities as boys. Our  holistic STAR-school model assures a  sustainable  introduction and implementation of CSE in schools. This  model guarantees a conducive environment where school management, parents and community are supportive and take responsibility for successful implementation of the programme, to obtain positive behaviour change among the youth.