HIV/AIDS/STD PREVENTION EDUCATION
Program Outline
Judy Warren lectures on a personal level, not a statistical one. She tells about her brother who died of AIDS after 4 years of suffering. She tells his story and her family’s story. She shows pictures of him before and after AIDS and also pictures of many other young people who have already died because of AIDS. She tells their stories as well. Two young men went to Lee High School when they were infected. This really attracts the kids’ attention. She also tells them of her brother’s suffering which included going blind and losing his mind. Judy encourages them to think of their families while she tells them her story. Many cry.
Points Brought Out on Day 1
- The importance of families. Their choices and decisions not only affect their lives but also their families.
- Life and death – they have only one life – their choices and decisions they make every day could determine whether they have a life or not.
- Sexually transmitted diseases. We list 7 STD’s in their world today that can actually kill them. How each one works.
- Suffering. While death does not mean much to young people, pain and suffering does. They are told what can happen to them between the time they get AIDS and die, such as what it is like to be on a breathing machine. That is what they are risking, not just death.
- Self esteem. The importance of liking and loving yourself and being your own best friend. No one knows you like you do. Others may lie to get what they want. Being properly educated today so you can make the right decisions for yourself, your life, your future and the future of your family.
- World today is different from previous worlds. The world they live in today is very different from any we have ever had. When we were their age, we had no STDs to worry about that could kill us. Today, we list 7 in their world that can actually kill them. We talk about the messages they are receiving today through all avenues; music, TV, videos and movies. They constantly receive the message that “everything is acceptable today”. But what they are not being told is that if they do what is so accepted today THEY COULD DIE!
- Abstinence. There is no such thing today as “Safe Sex”. The only way to be absolutely safe is “abstinence”. Even when young people think they are being safe, there is so much they do not know that many of them are contracting deadly STDs today. Proper prevention education is more vital today than ever before for everyone, even adults. Today the highest risk group for HIV/AIDS is young people 10 to 15 years of age. With the life or death risks we give young people today, they have new very important reasons to consider abstinence.
- Gift: “In Defense of a Little Virginity”. Every young person we talk to receives a gift which is an article entitled, “In Defense of a Little Virginity”. Each article is folded with a ribbon and bow wrapped around it. The article talks about STDs, the world they live in and condoms. It also addresses “Secondary Virginity” which is someone who has already done something but wants to turn over a new leaf in their life. Many kids adopt this after hearing us. It is wrapped in a ribbon and bow because their virginity, secondary virginity and their lives are God given gifts and only they can protect their gifts. No one can protect them for them.
- Condoms: Kids today are receiving wrong messages about condoms – to just have a condom and have safe sex, which does not exist. We tell them all the things they are not being told about condoms, all the things that can go wrong with them. We tell them about one of the deadliest STD’s today, HPV, and how you contract it from the skin around where the condom fits. No condom can protect someone from HPV. Kids are not even being told today that with a latex condom, they have to use water based lubricants because oil based lubricants, such as Vaseline or lotions, eat up and weaken latex. We also address oral and anal sex and how they are just as dangerous.
- True Love Waits. We stress abstinence because it is the only sure way they can protect their lives today. But, we also urge them to make a plan on how to say “No”. Be prepared. We even give them an example of something they can say to get out of a situation. We talk about what “true love” is and how it is worth waiting for.
Points Brought Out on Day 2
The second day involves more HIV/AIDS education – what HIV is, the difference between HIV and AIDS, how you get HIV and how you do not, etc. We give them a self test which shows how much they know about HIV and how much they do not. Many teachers have used this test as a grade for them. We encourage questions on this day. After the first day, many come full of questions.
We show medicines someone with HIV/AIDS has to take in one day, which may consist of over 30 pills. This shocks the kids since they do not even like to take an aspirin.
The last 20 minutes or so is devoted to a woman with HIV who tells them her story. The kids think she is only Judy Warren’s assistant. They are shocked when she tells them she has HIV. Many cry. Meeting someone who looks healthy but deals with this every day drives home for them the fact that they too could be in her shoes if they are not careful. She confirms for them everything they have been told for two days. |
