Youth Activists Leadership Council

YALC Voice

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Volume 1, Issue 2 July December 2011

In this Issue
Editorial Latest survey results on HIV and STI infections in Nepal -Ashu Basnet Sex education: how young is too young -Medha Sharma A Positive Look -Rohan Chalise Photo Corner Activities Contact
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Editorial
Lets Break the Silence
Every child we see around is produced by sex. In fact, all of us are a product of sex, unless, of course, we are test-tube babies. But how ma n y o f t h o s e b a b ie s a re a r o u n d , s e r io u s l y ? If sex is so obvious in our life, why is it that parents never sit with their children and hold a serious discussion on the topic? Why does everyone turn their head away from the obvious and say it happens when it needs to happen? Why is sex or even talk about sex a t a b o o ? As I pondered over this question, I realized something. In our society, SEX is not a taboo; sex done for gratification is a taboo. Most often we hear a grandmother asking her son to give her a grandchild before she dies. So, here, basically she is asking her son to have sex with her wife. If sex were a taboo, she wouldn't be so indecent to ask her son to do so. But if her son were unmarried and she found out he has been having sex with his girlfriend, she would be freaking out. So this means, when people have sex for the purpose of reproduction, it is not a taboo. But sex between unmarried couples is a taboo because it is done for gratification, and most certainly not for reproduction. People, in our society, normally defined sex as a means to procreate, as a means to sustain the lives and existence; but very rarely can we find a person who openly defines sex as a means to gratify himself or attain supreme satisfaction. Even when parents try to educate their children about sex, they present it as a magical tool which creates other humans likes themselves. In fact, the definition of sex as a means to attain pleasure is a taboo in itself. But it is obvious that couples, married or unmarried, have sex for gratifying themselves. Long after the couples have given birth to their last child, they still have sex and have it for gratification. So isn't it high time that we readjust our perspectives? If sex is obviously unavoidable in everyday life, isnt it time that we address the issue and learn about healthy and safe way to perform it? Arent parents cheating their children by constantly denying the fact that their children are going to be sexually active one day and not educating them about sex? Arent they depriving themselves of right to healthy sex lives? So isnt it time that we break the silence?

Latest survey results on HIV and STI infections in Nepal

-Ashu Basnet According to the Ministry of Health and Population (MOHP), National Centre for AIDS and STD Control (NCASC) results from the Integrated Biological and Behavioral Surveillance (IBBS) surveys 2011 conducted among Female Sex Workers (FSWs) and male Injecting Drug Users (IDUs) in Kathmandu and Pokhara Valleys, the overall HIV prevalence among FSWs has remained stable at around 2% in Kathmandu and under 3% in Pokhara. The prevalence of active syphilis has also decreased over the years. Safe sexual behavior such as correct and consistent condom use with their clients has increased significantly (Kathmandu: around 57% in 2004 to 73% in 2011 and Pokhara: around 35% in 2004 to 61% in 2011). The IBBS survey among male IDUs shows a significant gradual decrease in HIV prevalence in Kathmandu from 68% in 2002 to 6.3% in 2011. Similarly, the HIV prevalence has decreased in Pokhara from 22% in 2003 to 4.3% in 2011. During the same period, these studies show that the sharing of needle/syringes has decreased (Kathmandu: around 59% in 2002 to 5% in 2011, and Pokhara: 32% in 2003 to 3% in 2011). The surveys were conducted among 938 FSWs (593 in Kathmandu 238 street-based and 355 establishment-based and 354 in Pokhara) and 685 male IDUs (340 in Kathmandu and 345 in Pokhara). The 2011 IBBS surveys collected information on key behaviors and collected blood samples to determine HIV and active syphilis prevalence among the study populations. These encouraging findings indicate that the targeted intervention approaches among most-at-risk populations, designed by the Government of Nepal, are successful in preventing HIV and STI infections and contribute achieving overall success of the HIV and AIDS response in the country. However, it is important to sustain the activities and such programs in future too.

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Volume 1, Issue 2

Sex education: how young is too young

-Medha Sharma
be taught sex education immediately at school. For me, sex education should begin at home, with parents, even before formal schooling. Our society still offends on parent children communication regarding sex, and what to teach a 4 year old child? But, even sex education should be age specific. scenes, if not directly exposed to porn, and he will definitely have question there. Never avoid them, but answer them, if not in details, but at least very basic facts. Remember, more true you are at this age, the more they will start to trust you, which will help your bonding lifelong. At least at the age of 7, a person can be taught that other touching your private part is not good. Again, a ten year can be told about rapes and molesters. Body organs and basic puberty processes should be explained at the age of 10 and no later. Do not let children freak out seeing changes in themselves. Sex education is not just about avoiding pregnancy, but also about avoiding infections, and also being able to report queries. At 12, perhaps they could be taught about sex organs and functions, the age when it will not sound too technical. Teaching at home is lot more tailored than teaching at school. But again, peer sharing is very important, and a child may feel more comfortable asking questions in school, thinking that everyone is similar. But when most of the youngsters today know what a condom is, know where to wear it, but do not know how to wear it correctly to prevent tearing or prevent conception. One who knows can teach them. Parents do not necessarily demonstrate condom in homes, schools can be help then. With time, passing generation and new media, the trend is also changing. Earlier generation cannot brand new generation as directionless. Come on, this is the change. So we need not go by what most parents say that sex education is not needed and that people naturally learn to learn. Everyone has the right to know how their body functions, and no age is too young for it.

yriads of debates have already been raised on appropriate age of introducing sexuality education in schools. Countries have their own principles; some do not even have sex education in school curriculum, Nepal has it from 15 years, while UK plans to start it at 4 years old. Whatever the age be, challenges lie at both ends, driven by socio cultural circumstances. For instance, Nepal has a reason here. When the sex education curriculum for schools was launched for the first time around 10 years back after tearing apart several challenges of political commitment, the challenges had only begun. Teachers hesitated to teach those chapters; in several schools the chapters were omitted, yet in some the chapter was taught in women festival day, when no girls attended the schools. Even in private urban schools, the chapter was read out, but not explained. The common justification put forth is that even at times when sex was not taught in class, people still knew about sex and as such, children will learn about it themselves, and that teaching them at such young age is merely stimulating them. Dear teachers, in Nepal, 10.72% get married before 20 years and 50 % are already mothers by the time you teach them about family planning in text books. By 15, girls and boys already know more than what is mentioned in the text books through the porn, and you still say it is too young? Newspapers often cover news of adolescents committing suicide after their parents find them watching porn, or exchanging porn in class. How can you say that teaching them these stuffs at 15 is merely stimulating them in young age? Well, I am not going to start a debate again regarding the correct age of marriage or sex again. Actually, I differ in the point that a child should

Dear teachers, in Nepal, 10.72% get married before 20 years and 50 % are already mothers by the time you teach them about family planning in text books.
Anyways, I am not mentioning to tell a 4 year old child about the actual sex. What you teach a 4 year old is not something you teach a 16 year old. You are not trying to scare them!! But come on, at least he or she can be taught that babies develop inside mom and that man and woman have

different organs. Well, my 6 year old brother was shocked when his mother took him and his cousin sister to the same public toilet, where he for the first time noticed that his sister does not have a faucet like his!!! Who says a 4 year old does not have queries? If a kid watches television at 4, you will definitely not disagree that he or she will be exposed to intimate

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Volume 1, Issue 2

A Positive Look
-Rohan Chalise

espite the fact that HIV and AIDS has been one of the biggest problem in the world, Nepal, However has been able to reduce the HIV rate since last 10 years. Currently the decreasing rate of HIV in Nepal is 30% which is even better than the global scenario. Globally, The HIV rate has been decreasing at 20%. This data maybe interesting for the people working in the same field over the years. We can definitely assume that thousands of INGO's and NGO's working has contributed in this achievement.

Nevertheless, we can never forget the effort of government to reduce the HIV rate in Nepal. Most of the HIV awareness program designed in Nepal are preventive, that might also be one of the major factor in the rate depreciation. Well, this does not mean we have achieved everything. We should continue to reduce the rate and encourage the people working in the field of HIV and AIDS. Lets hope someday, world will be free of HIV and AIDS.

r e n r o C s e r u t c i P

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Volume 1, Issue 2

Activities
So far...
The council initiated its work in February with a 3-days residential training and a 2days exposure visit as a capacity-building program for the selected youth activists. YALC into social networking sites (Facebook, Twitter) Footage collections for documentary and council members at their best participated in various community activities to create awareness about SRHR issues in Nepal and the initiative of YALC. Various community focused, media centered and publicity activities, and rapport building with various radio stations. Council members are actively participating in media outreach program. As a part of this, Goma and Yashoda gave an interview to Gorkha FM, whereas Sanskriti and Subrata gave interview to Star FM, Rohan gave interview to Image, Kantipur and Youth FM sharing about the different events of YALC and on the council itself focusing on the importance of SRHR . YALC had designed and printed the T-shirts, Sticker, Brochure, and Signature campaign card. They were widely distributed. Documentary Show/Booketing Panel discussion for the EPH teachers from various schools The Youth Conclave: an interactive platform for dynamic young minds to share on issues of their concern including SRHR topics. The Red Ribbon Caravan (RRC): a campaign for peer based information sharing among youths regarding HIV and AIDS. To highlight the World AIDS Day 2011, and the International Youth Year 2010/11, it was conducted as a national voyage, under YUWA AIDS program of YUWA, in collaboration with other organizing partners. Activities Completed under RRC i) Caravan ii) Music iii) Puppet Show iv) Mobile Info Cabin v) Games and Fun

Ongoing Regular activities

Blog posts by council members in regular basis in the website, www.amplifyyourvoice.org . Participation by the members in various activities at community level. Facebook updates/awareness, Twitter twits, etc

Visit www.yuwa.org.np/yalc for more details. Facebook: www.facebook.com/yalcnepal

Design: Rohan Chalise

Twitter: www.twitter.com/YALCnepal

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