My experience with sex ed class is nothing but a vague memory. It was one-hour sessions over the span of two days at Washington Intermediate school in Dinuba. In high school, I read about the human anatomy and very little about sexual health from biology textbooks. I did not learn much; I learned more about reproductive health through friends. However, the information most of the time was unreliable. It was not until now, after joining the Peer Ed ACTion Team, that I have gained comprehensive knowledge of sexual health.
ACT for Women and Girls now facilitates an intensive program titled Peer Education that meets weekly. This program aims to involve individuals ages 14 to 21 to increase the access to reliable information about sexual and reproductive health. Peer Educators are trained extensively on comprehensive sexual health, which then they become certified to educate their peers about teen pregnancy prevention, sexually transmitted infections, and how to maintain healthy relationships. This information is shared through street outreach and community events as well sharing presentations on social media.
I have gained valuable skills such as civic engagement, advocacy, community building and leadership development. To be able to help my peers make healthy choices regarding their sexual health empowers and encourages me to continue my work. I feel more connected to my peers and community thanks to this program.
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