Raise awareness, inform and support adolescents. It is these three watchwords which are put forward by the four speakers of the day, who came to discuss with second year students from the Rémi-Belleau high school in Nogent-le-Rotrou around the theme of sexuality, this Thursday, December 5.
It is essential to offer young people the opportunity to express themselves on this vast theme.
“It is essential to offer young people the opportunity to express themselves on this vast theme of sexuality. We opted for a “fun” type of awareness raising so that teenagers are attentive and participatory. In particular, by carrying out practical challenges,” explains Samuel, director of the youth space and youth informant in Perche.
The students learned how to put on a male and female condom.
Sexuality, a theme “too often taboo”
Same observation from his colleague Yannis, also a youth informant, who underlines “a worrying lack of information” on the part of these young people on the subject of a theme “too often taboo” when it should not be. be.
“This initiative is fundamental for these adolescents who are entering the period of their first discoveries,” says Cédric Dufeuil, the nurse at the Nogent high school. In particular that of the first romantic emotions, which are accompanied by a discovery of sexual life.
35% of young people under 20 have their first sexual relationship between the ages of 15 and 17. A moment which coincides with entry into high school, in second grade.
The awareness-raising time was divided into two separate workshops. One supervised by the establishment’s nurse, Cédric Dufeuil, around a question-and-answer game. The other, led by the childhood-youth center of the Perche community of communes, in collaboration with CeGIDD – a sexual health center whose mission is: STI screening and sexual health care.
“Giving the keys to young people” on a subject that concerns them
On the program: fun activity (quiz on knowledge of sexuality), debates and open discussions. The nurse began his intervention by questioning the high school students on their knowledge of AIDS, acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (Editor’s note: World AIDS Day was December 1st).
“It’s complicated, I admit, but could you define what it is? » Astonished, the teenagers tense up. A silence settles. The mention of this word does not evoke anything very reassuring and the students know it.
After a detailed explanation, the speaker asks the teenagers to take out their phones to start the quiz, during which a multitude of questions and answers will follow, accompanied by explanations from the healthcare professional.
This made it possible to explain to everyone how AIDS is transmitted and how to get treatment. But above all, how to protect yourself from it.
This is the moment chosen by the nurse to question the audience to find out if what he is explaining is a “simple reminder” or if the adolescents are learning new things.
“I wasn’t very motivated to come, but this awareness helps everyone”
The answer is clear: “We roughly knew that it was a sexual illness, but regarding the rest, I learned a lot of things,” confesses Eliott after the intervention. He adds: “I wasn’t very motivated to come, but this awareness helps everyone. »
In the audiovisual room, small groups present themselves in front of the three other speakers.
“We talk about many things: STIs, the dangers of porn, contraception, sexism… But this year, there is a central theme to discuss, that of consent, more relevant than ever in society” explains Chloé , member of CeGIDD. She ends: “We must give the keys to young people on these subjects of sexuality. »
