This booklet provides information for parents, caregivers, community leaders, youth group and religious leaders, community members, teachers and others involved in the welfare and development of children. It explains what good comprehensive sexuality education for children is all about and why communities should support young people’s access to sexual and reproductive health services. It also explains the six topics that guide the teaching of comprehensive sexuality education (relationships, values, culture, puberty, sexual behavior, and sexual and reproductive health), and what information needs to be shared with children on each topic, at the different stages of their growth, that is – The right information, at the right time. Not being aware of what is being taught to children can result in worry and resistance from parents and caregivers. This can lead to the wrong information being shared about what is being taught and to whom.
Young people are getting infected with HIV more often than any other age group in eastern and southern Africa. Every hour, 52 young people across the region get infected with HIV; of these, 60% are in young women This reason, more than any other, is why communities need to work together with governments, schools and other groups to ensure young people receive the right information, at the right time.
