SOUTH AFRICA SCHOOL-BASED SEXUALITY AND HIV PREVENTION EDUCATION ACTIVITY

The program, supported by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), aims to equip learners with knowledge and skills to make informed decisions about their lives. The initiative is implemented by the Education Development Center (EDC) under contract AID-674-C-15-00002 from January 18, 2015, to December 31, 2021. The program's approach involves a series of scripted lesson plans, including the "Looking Ahead Lesson: My Personal Protection Plan." This lesson is designed to help learners reflect on their life goals and how romantic and intimate relationships fit into their plans. The lesson is structured around a self-assessment exercise, where learners review their knowledge and skills related to healthy relationships, STI prevention, HIV prevention, and testing, and harmful, coercive, and abusive relationships. The lesson plan includes a scenario where Omphile, an 18-year-old boy who is the head of his family and HIV positive, discusses his concerns with his peers. Omphile is trying to talk to his peers about something serious, but his twin brother Michael is distracted by his earphones. The teacher, Mr. Moloi, encourages the learners to sit in their designated groups and complete the self-assessment worksheet at home. The learners are asked to reflect on their experiences and challenges related to intimate relationships and to identify areas where they need more information or support. The self-assessment questionnaire covers various aspects of healthy relationships, including safe love relationships, HIV testing, talking about sexual relationships, avoiding substances that impair judgment, and saying no to relationships where money or nice things are offered in exchange for sex. The questionnaire also covers safe sexual relationships, PrEP, and PEP. The learners are encouraged to discuss their findings and challenges with their peers and to identify areas where they need more support or guidance. The program's goal is to equip learners with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to make informed decisions about their lives, including their relationships and sexual health. By providing a safe and supportive learning environment, the program aims to empower learners to protect themselves and their partners from HIV and other STIs. The program's approach is grounded in the Life Skills or Life Orientation curriculum and is designed to be age-appropriate and culturally relevant to the South African context.