We at Penta understand that education is the most effective tool in prevention and awareness raising and that is why our Sexual Health Education Programmes are specifically designed to empower and increase the awareness of students, educators, parents and healthcare professionals alike, of the impact that HIV has on the youth. Our programmes encourage healthy lifestyle choices to thereby reduce and prevent further HIV and STI infections as well as call to attention the important role that support systems play when faced with the social aspects that come with living with an infectious disease. Thanks to our team of experts working in local communities, we deliver teaching and information based on scientific evidence, sensitive to cultural differences and targeted towards gender equality.
Educational Programmes
OUR EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMES
School Programmes
We regularly host workshops and develop and distribute educational material to students aimed at providing them the knowledge and skills to prevent the spread of sexually transmitted infections and to fight the stigma connected to these diseases. We are committed to improving the knowledge, health, and well-being of adolescents, to allow them to enjoy safer and joyful relationships.
Sexual Education Project
MIDDLE SCHOOLS
Course Overview
This covers topics on HIV/AIDS, STI prevention, healthy relationships and birth control with an emphasis on abstinence. It is presented to students in an age appropriate format and students are taught about tolerance and acceptance of sexual orientation and leaves them empowered to take control and make informed decisions about their sexuality and relationships freely and responsibly.
Length: 2-3 hours
Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) Project
HIGH SCHOOLS
Course Overview
This programme aims to raise awareness of STIs among young people and eradicate stigmatisation and discrimination of people living with HIV or other STIs.
We encourage students to engage in responsible decision making as a means to reduce risky sexual behaviour.
Length: 4 hours
Comprehensive Sexual Education Program Project
HIGH SCHOOLS
Course Overview
This programme, known in Italy as Corpo Relazioni Emozioni in Adolenscenza (CREA) is designed to empower adolescents to take control and make informed decisions about their sexuality and relationships freely and responsibly, ensuring they understand that sexuality is something that encompasses both physical and psychological aspects.
Length: 10 hours
The Sexual Health Education team has had the great pleasure of working with numerous students, here is what one student had to say.
Programmes For Adults
Sexual education is an ongoing conversation that does not rest solely with parents nor healthcare workers and as the famous adage goes “it takes a village to raise a child”. With that in mind, Penta developed courses centered around holding conversations about sexuality with children and adolescents for parents, carers and healthcare workers who deal with adolescents on a regular basis and offers guidance on how to be thoughtful and intentional in these conversations. An open conversation about sexuality is very important as it can help young people reflect on social norms, cultural values and traditional beliefs, in order to better understand and manage their relationships with peers, parents, teachers, other adults and their communities.
Sex Talks. Supporting children and adolescents in the development of positive sexuality
Course for parents and educators
Course overview
Many young people approach adulthood faced with conflicting, negative and confusing messages about sexuality that are often exacerbated by embarrassment and silence from adults, including parents and teachers. In many societies, attitudes and laws discourage public discussion of sexuality and sexual behaviour, and social norms may perpetuate harmful conditions, for example gender inequality in relation to sexual relationships, family planning and modern contraceptive use.
A significant body of evidence shows that an open dialogue about sexuality helps children and young people to develop accurate and age-appropriate knowledge, attitudes and skills; positive values, including respect for human rights, gender equality and diversity, and attitudes and skills that contribute to safe, healthy, positive relationships.
Length: Two, 2 hour meetings
Course for healthcare professionals
Course Overview
Sexual development starts in childhood, when toddlers start to explore their bodies and interact with other children, building up their sexual identity. Therefore, paediatric healthcare workers facing children/adolescents and their families should talk about sexuality with their patients.
When given the opportunity and received by patient and caring health professionals, young patients would talk about sexuality. The same is true for parents who need to talk about the sexuality of their children. This type of open dialogue is especially important for patients affected by illnesses that directly interfere with their sexual functionality such as genital deformation.
Length: Two, 2 hour meetings
OUR PROJECTS
Work In Progress (WIP) Group
Our WIP group raises awareness on problems related to stigma and discrimination towards HIV positive adolescents.
The idea of WIP originated from a group of adolescents living with HIV, who wanted to share their experience and contribute to the fight against discrimination. Through WIP, we deliver content about infectious diseases developed by adolescents for the general public and promote inclusion and tolerance.
This video, created by the Children’s HIV Association (CHIVA), depicts some of the social issues that HIV positive adolescents currently face and the message our WIP group hopes to express to the general public regardless of HIV status.
MEET OUR TEAM
I’m Chiara Novello. I’m an educator, counsellor and sexual education expert. I’m part of a multidisciplinary team that takes care of HIV-infected young people at the Children and Women’s Health Department, at the university of Padova. I support diagnosis communication and the disease acceptance process. Since 1999, I have led programmes aimed at raising awareness on HIV in high schools and also currently lead school sexual educational programmes addressed to adolescents.
I’m Elena Badio, I’m an educator specialising in the planning and management of educational programmes focused on social unrest. I’m also a counsellor and a sexual health educator. I lead educational activities addressed to HIV positive young people and STI awareness programmes in high schools.