How Zoe and Miguel Became Sexual Health Advocates

On an early Tuesday morning, 18-year-olds Zoe and Miguel run across their classroom. Miguel is trying to reach the “safe zone,” while Zoe tries to protect him from getting hit by a red ball—a symbol for HIV and other STIs—that will get him “infected.” This engaging game is designed to teach students about the importance of using contraceptives.

Just a few years ago, this moment would have been unthinkable. Sex education wasn’t part of the curriculum in secondary school in Namaacha. Games weren’t tools for learning, and students didn’t talk about sexual health—not with their teachers, their friends, or their families.

Everything changed when the SHARE program started at Zoe and Miguel's school. Students now learn about their sexual health and reproductive rights, and feel confident talking about them with their friends and family.

A GAME-CHANGING APPROACH TO SEX EDUCATION

In Mozambique, one in two girls is married before the age of 18 and 46% become pregnant before reaching adulthood. Gender inequality and social taboos prevent open conversations about sex, relationships, and consent.

Before the SHARE program began at Zoe and Miguel’s school, students had limited access to accurate, age-appropriate information about their bodies and health. Myths, fear, and stigma were common amongst teens and their families. Girls as young as 12 or 13 were getting pregnant. Many dropped out of school, their futures altered forever.

Zoe remembers clearly how her situation was before SHARE. She used to be afraid of visiting the health clinic—terrified that getting a health check might mean receiving bad news. But with the introduction of the program, she feels less anxiety now.

Right To Play launched SHARE to train teachers, healthcare workers, parents, and community leaders to deliver sexual and reproductive health education in a way that’s interactive, engaging, and effective—using play.

The Sexual Health and Reproductive Education (SHARE) project aims to advance gender equality by improving access to sexual and reproductive education and gender-responsive health care for young people, especially girls and young women, in Ghana, Mozambique and Uganda. In Mozambique, SHARE has integrated sexual health education into the regular school curriculum, ensuring that students in all classes learn about their sexual and reproductive health and rights to prepare them for life.

Using play to teach taboo topics de-stigmatizes them, making it easier for teachers to discuss topics related to sexual health, and opens the floor for students to engage in the lesson and ask questions. Topics like consent, menstruation, and STIs are no longer taboo, they are part of everyday conversations in class.

Miguel used to be shy and closed off when topics about bodies and health were raised. He now feels confident talking about sexual health with his friends and even his family. Miguel’s mother, Anabela, also sees the change in him, and how he has changed in his relationships with others. “We now talk about sexual health issues at home, and he shares what he learned with his siblings at home,” she says.

CREATING SAFE SPACES FOR TEENS 

Helena, a Portuguese teacher at Zoe and Miguel’s school, says the training she received as part of the SHARE program transformed how she teaches. In the training, she learned how to integrate comprehensive sexuality education (CSE) topics into her language lessons. Right To Play provided this training to support the government’s goal of increasing CSE teaching in schools in a way that didn’t add more work onto teachers’ already busy schedules. She also uses play-based activities to teach some of these topics to break taboos and open up conversations.

HELP CREATE SAFE SPACES 

As part of the SHARE program, Right To Play is also training healthcare workers like Djasta, who works at a health clinic close to the school.

Djasta used to see few teenage visitors, especially boys. Many were too shy or scared to ask questions. When she got the opportunity to join a training for healthcare workers by Right To Play, she learned to use games to explain complex topics like STIs and contraception. The games helped her connect with the teenagers and discuss important topics with them that they were once too shy to talk about. Djasta also learned how to make the health clinic where she works look inviting to young people, with age-appropriate posters and flyers with information about sexual reproductive health and rights.

Now, Djasta has created a safe, welcoming environment at the clinic. “With the new skills I've learned, boys and girls feel more comfortable seeking out our services,” she says. She now knows how to help teens understand important information, remember it, and take action to protect their health.

FROM FEAR TO ADVOCACY 

Zoe is now an advocate for sexual and reproductive health education. Because of support from teachers like Helena and healthcare workers like Djasta, she has learned that she does not need to be afraid. She now understands that she can protect herself against viruses and get treated if needed. She doesn’t keep the information she receives for herself, but instead shares the facts with her peers.

“When I share information about my sexual health, that person will share it with others, and we will all help each other to protect ourselves from certain diseases,”  Zoe says.

This is powerful because for many teenagers, the most trusted source of information is often their friends and social circles. The more adolescents are empowered with trusted information and supports, the faster facts will spread, and the better chance communities have to reduce incidences of early and forced marriage and pregnancy STIs that can limit youth’s futures.

The Sexual Health and Reproductive Education (SHARE) project aims to advance gender equality by improving access to sexual and reproductive education and gender-responsive health care for young people, especially girls and young women, in Ghana, Mozambique and Uganda. Launched in 2022, through a partnership between Right To Play, FAWE, and WaterAid, the project is made possible with the financial support of the Government of Canada provided through Global Affairs Canada, and with technical assistance provided by FHI 360. The five-year project will strengthen sexual and reproductive rights for more than 325,000 adolescents and youth (age 10-24) by 2026.