Our future: sexuality and life skills education for young people in Zambia
25 January 2008
Young, Happy, Healthy and Safe, Zambia (YHHS), is a partner in the Alliance’s Africa regional youth programme and, in partnership with the Alliance, has developed a series of books to support the teaching of sexuality and life skills education to young people. The Our Future books are being used by schools in Zambia as part of their curriculum to teach young people about puberty, friendship, gender, sexuality, pregnancy, sexually transmitted infections and HIV.
Philip Mwansa, the head teacher of Chiwoko Basic School, and Jane Banolo, the deputy head teacher, tell us about addressing HIV in a school setting.
“Talking about sex has been a taboo, so we had to explain to the teachers and parents that with HIV and the increasing abuse of young people our students had to know about these things so they could protect themselves.”
The books contain many learning activities and illustrations, which engage young people in understanding themselves and their world. They reflect on and practice the virtues and skills needed to develop caring and loving relationships, make good decisions, solve problems and seek help.
“Our motivation as leaders of the school is what is happening right now in the world – the pandemic – everyone is concerned. Even the church now, and everyone wants to be involved in a solution.”
The first books in the series have been used in Zambia schools since 2007 and new additions to the series planned for publication in 2008 will do more to help teachers and parents educate and support pupils.
Below are links to the resources in the Our future series currently available to download from the Alliance website:
- Our future: Sexuality and life skills education for young people grades 4-5 (2.87 mb, English)
- Our future: Sexuality and life skills education for young people grades 6-7 (3 mb, English)
- Our future: Sexuality and life skills education for young people grades 8-9 (3.46 mb, English)
- Preparing to teach sexuality and life skills (2.7 mb, English)
