Jovenes, Cultura y Sexualidad

Location:
Tuesday, April 1st, 2008

Details:

Jovenes, Cultura y Sexualidad, an outreach educational program of FEMAP under the Two Should Know Initiative of the Paso del Norte Health Foundation (PdNHF), works toward reducing teen pregnancies in Cd. Juarez.

Jovenes, Cultura y Sexualidad program, which translates to Youth, Culture and Sexuality, presents the theme of human sexuality through arts and culture. ?Sexuality is presented as positive and natural and the educational component is presented through innovative techniques such as an exhibit and a puppet show? explains Maru Parra, program coordinator. ?We provide a venue for youth to explore their doubts.? The project is used as an educational tool to support school and parents and it consists of three strategies that will help explain to youth sex in a scientific means and encourage reflective thinking.

In the last five years, Cd. Juarez has seen an increase in births to teens. Out of 5,400 deliveries at Hospital de la Familia in 2005, 29% were born to adolescents between the age of 12 and 19. ?As it is in the majority of the cases, the pregnancies were not planned,? explains Maru. ?In another study conducted by FEMAP-SADEC, 7% of adolescents between the age of 15 and 17 living along the U.S./Mexico border, have given birth in the past year. And, in research conducted by SADEC in 2004, 27% of youth between 12 and 19 were sexually active and a large majority was not using any form of birth control.?

Por qu? si o por qu? no (Why yes or why not)
In collaboration with with Marionetas Shuto and the ExAduana Museum, SADEC has launched a puppet theater production entitled Por qu? si o por qu? no (Why yes or why not). The play includes three characters and is about being an adolescent at a party who are presented with the opportunity of being alone and possibly having sex for the first time. The play?s ending is decided upon by the public and they have an opportunity for conversation with the actors (puppets) and a specialist in sexual education.

?Teachers and counselors found this program to be a great tool in educating youth about sex because the youth see themselves reflected in the situation and through the project find a safe and friendly space to help resolve their doubts on the theme of sexuality,? adds Maru.

The second strategy, a multi-media exhibition entitled Con?cete, va por tu cuenta, (Know Yourself, its up to you) provides a brief anthroplogy history about themes related to sexuality. The third strategy is the presentation of a series of workshops for youth, parents and others such as counselors who work with youth.

The exhibition is open to the public at the Ex Aduana Museum which is located on 16 de Septiembre in Cd. Juarez. The puppet show and the sex education workshops are taking place in the schools.

?Our goal is to reach more than 3,000 youths and educate and provide them with the tools so they will be responsible for their own sexuality decisions,? says Maru. ?As a result, we can lower the number of premature pregnancies, sexually transmitted diseases and violence.

The purpose of the PdNHF?s Two Should Know Initiative is to effect long term improvements in public health by improving sexual health through education and prevention among regional residents. The initiative helps grantees create and implement effective and imaginative programs emphasizing sexual health for the reduction of poor health outcomes, such as sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), unintended pregnancies, and sexual violence/abuse as well as for the promotion of good emotional and social health outcomes.

The impact of the Project will be evaluated with the support and technical assistance of New Mexico State University. For more information on this project, please contact Maru Parra at (01152) 656-616-0833.