Let's talk about sex

I have to say goodbye now to all those of you who expected any sordid details about my life, because you will be strongly disappointed - everyone else is welcome to read on.

As hopefully all of you know, one of the common ways to get infected with HIV is unprotected sex which is why this topic is also a very important part in our workshops. As this topic commonly arouses uncomfortable or embarrassing moments or laughter, I was a bit worried about how this section of the workshop will turn out. However, after the first session, I was very much relieved because I discovered that Malaysian 17-year-olds are not comparable with their Austrian counterparts, indicating that they are - or at least look - quite young and innocent and are not as presumptuous or sassy in the sessions, which might be due to their upbrining or a differet kind of discipline in the schools here (they still use the cane). So apart from some giggling or random jokes they are actually quite attentive and listen when it comes to the part where I explain in very technical terms about the different forms of penetrative sex and the risk factor of oral sex.
Although it is a bit funny to talk about sex when the kids are sometimes divided to the different parts of the room according to their gender and are even shy to shake hands with the other sex when prompted to - but then again you can never judge a book by its cover .

Depending on the school and the teachers we get various guidelines on how we have to address the topic of sex: sometimes we are not allowed to do condom demonstrations, sometimes they highly appreciate us explaining the proper use of condoms (like last week in an all-boys school), sometimes we should emphasize on abstinence, sometimes we are asked to use no colloquial terms and so on. I am actually quite satisfied with the freedom they allow us in the workshops so far and we were able till now to bring across the main message without problem.

explaining protection methods through a game

When it comes to talk about prevention and protection methods, we also mention the ABC-theory (Abstinence, Being faithful and Condoms). Admittedly, it was a bit strange in the beginning to refer to those three points as prevention methods regarding HIV. However, I must say that by now I really enjoy this part - as we also underline the meaning and risk of HIV by an interactive game - and feel a bit like I can really educate the kids on a very important thing. And of course I make sure to strongly emphasize on the terms of correctly applying all three methods (for example I do point out that faithfullness is only of any use if it is not one-sided).

Most of the students actually pay attention during the workshops and I think the games are a good method to transmit the underlying messages and objectives of our sessions. It is our aim not only ot educate the youths about what safe sex, HIV and AIDS are, how it spreads, how it affects the body, how they can protect themselves, but also to highlight the current state of HIV in their own country and to break ignorance and avoid stigma concerning HIV-positive people.

The high-tech equipment I use for the condom demonstration. Before we switched to bananas there was an actual replica of the male sexual organ used (yes, a dildo),but it somehow disappeared (a couple of days before I arrived here - so no need for stupid comments or any highly inappropriate thoughts)

current music: The Quantic Soul Orchestra - Paintings & Journeys