Program Summary

This program will provide comprehensive education about reproductive health and HIV to 40,000 students in Shaanxi Province through innovative training-of-trainers workshops on key topics and provide educational materials and conduct activities with youth to support students development.

Why we are doing it?

There is a lack of information in rural schools about reproductive health and HIV and a general stigma attached to those who have HIV and AIDS. Local policy makers and teachers are not prepared to deliver relevant information in a way that is suitable for children.

Our Approach

Since 2006 Plan China has been working with Marie Stopes International to train principals and other school leaders on HIV and adolescent reproductive health. These leaders then go on to train schoolteachers on adolescent sexual health issues and teaching methods so that they are equipped to educate young students on these matters.  Information is provided to middle school students through multiple channels of youth-friendly newspapers, information booklets and in-school activities offering students hotline or secret mailbox counseling, lectures, peer education activities and campaigns.

Program Goals

·      Increase the adolescent reproductive health and HIV awareness of middle school students so that they cultivate self-confidence and responsible attitudes toward their own physical and emotional development during puberty whilst encouraging a positive attitude to people living with HIV

·      Train teachers to better understand and respond to the sexual health needs of their students

·      Provide an environment that supports adolescent reproductive health and HIV awareness through advocacy initiatives to key local educational policy makers and headmasters

Program Activities

·      Training workshops for teachers and student peer educators on topics of life skills, communication skills, participatory teaching methods, interactive teaching as well as sexual education and adolescent reproductive health and HIV knowledge.

·      Trainers train other teachers and class monitors; who then educate all students in each class.

·      Newspaper and information booklets be developed for middle school and high school students respectively

·      Other in-school activities, such as hotlines and secret mailbox counseling

Program Partners

Marie Stopes International is a not-for-profit sexual and reproductive health organisation that uses modern business methods to achieve the social goal of preventing unintended pregnancies and unplanned births in 38 countries worldwide. Marie Stopes International delivers state-of-the-art programmes in family planning; safe abortion (including post abortion care); maternal and child health and HIV/STDs, including male circumcision.  Marie Stopes International in China was the first non governmental organisation in China to specifically provide both reproductive health education and services to unmarried young people. This programs success is attributed to Mary Stopes International’s experiences in adolescent reproductive health and HIV education.

Future of the Program

Marie Stopes International and Plan China will work together on this program until 2009.  They will share their experiences and review workshops during and at the end of the program. All experiences and knowledge gained form the program will be disseminated to government partners and other NGOs.

Impact

·      Increase the adolescent reproductive health and HIV awareness of middle school students in five areas of Shaanxi Province, to cultivate self-confidence and responsible attitudes toward their own physical and emotional development during puberty while encouraging a positive attitude to people living with HIV.

·      Train teachers in 38 middle schools in Shaanxi Province to better understand and respond to the sexual health needs of their students.

·      Provide an environment that supports adolescent reproductive health and HIV awareness through advocacy initiatives to key local educational policy makers and headmasters.

·      In all 1,140 teachers and 1,140 class monitors will be trained who will together reach out to all 40,000 students in the schools.