According to a recent U-Report survey conducted in January 2024, over 30% of young Ukrainians expressed a desire to learn more about the differences between male and female bodies. Furthermore, 50% believe that sexual hygiene lectures should be included in the school curriculum.
“I run a journalism club, and I often hear from young people that they lack knowledge about sexuality,” says 21-year-old Anastasia. “They search for information online, but it often leaves them more confused and insecure.”
In response to this knowledge gap, young Ukrainians like Anastasia have taken initiative through the UPSHIFT youth innovation programme, organized by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF). This program provides participants with training, mentorship, and resources to develop their projects focused on health, safety, and relationship awareness for adolescents and young adults.
In Reshetylivka, Poltavska region, Volodymyr, Vitalii, Kira, Veronika, and Kateryna formed the Progress team, launching a series of sex education workshops for students in grades 8 to 11. They partnered with the Poltava Regional Centre for HIV Prevention and AIDS Control to establish a mobile unit offering free and anonymous rapid testing for diseases, including HIV, hepatitis B and C, and syphilis.
Meanwhile, the Blue Honesty team in Sumy, consisting of Ilona, Daria, Margarita, and Vladyslav, has been leading training sessions on topics such as “Relationships and Values,” “Sex, Gender, and Sexual Orientations,” and “Violence and Safety,” with the assistance of a sexologist. They have also created an information channel to provide verified content for young audiences and set up a sexuality education corner at a local youth center, where visitors can access informational leaflets and free contraceptives.
“Sexuality education is about building healthy relationships, first with yourself and your body, and then with others,” states 18-year-old Ilona. “We focus on safety and consent while providing honest information. Teenagers and young adults need this knowledge.”
In Avanhard village, Odeska region, Anastasiia, Valeriia, and Yuliia have developed a project aimed at delivering essential sex education to local teenagers. With expert guidance, they conducted training sessions on personal boundaries, physiological differences, menstruation, safe sex, and contraception. The Conscious team aims to incorporate these sessions into regular education within their community.
“Sexuality education is crucial because it provides adolescents with accurate information about their bodies, consent, and the surrounding stereotypes,” says Anastasia, 21. “When taught by a professional, adolescents can build trust and realize that the topic is not as intimidating as they may think, and that learning about it is essential.”
So far, over 400 adolescents and young people have engaged in these transformative sexuality education projects.
The UPSHIFT programme, implemented by UNICEF, aims to address the serious humanitarian challenges arising from the ongoing war in Ukraine. Recognizing that youth are vital to community development, UNICEF has mobilized UPSHIFT participants to tackle these issues. Over the past year, 459 teams, comprising 2,003 young people aged 14 to 24, have participated in the programme, reaching more than 30,000 beneficiaries.
U-Report is UNICEF’s digital platform that connects proactive young people eager to voice their opinions and instigate change in their country. This survey involved 2,534 respondents.
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