SexySmarts

Historically, there has been very little engagement with adolescents with regards to what they want and need from s*x education programmes. Content provided tends to have a medical or moralistic focus – condoms or abstinence. Neither of these two methodologies are adequate for developing a healthy attitude towards s*x or a broader sense of s*xual citizenship.

The SexySmarts programme was developed in response to anonymous questions asked by learners, and covers all the topics covered in current comprehensive s*x education guidelines. Over the course of over 15 years, more than 15 000 questions have been received. These questions show the following:

Gaps in learner’s knowledge and their s*xual insecurities

Topics usually taboo or ignored in s*xual health education e.g. ma********on, s*xual feelings (response), homos*xuality, s*xual abuse and questions about s*xual activity

Inadequacies of s*x education in schools and home environments

We continue to encourage learners to ask anonymous questions about s*x and s*xuality to ensure that the learners have answers to questions they may not be able to ask elsewhere.

If a teenager can ask the question, they deserve an accurate answer. They shouldn’t learn s*xual information by accident. Ignorance and innocence are not the same thing!