Educate teenagers about sexual health in Bolivia

How can I recognize the aggressor?
What if I don´t feel safe returning home?
What if my child is alone at home when I am working?
What can I do to protect my daughters from violence?

These are the questions women in Quillacollo have.

Our sexual prevention project consists of 30 minute sessions with parents and it usually takes place in the evening. We promote positive involvement from the family when it comes to sexual violence prevention so that they can comfortably talk about this subject with their children. We have the most attendance from mothers who come with their babies and younger children.

Due to the increasing sexual violence cases, at the beginning of the sessions parents feel anxious because they sometimes feel like they will be blamed for not protecting their children enough.

We focus on the prejudices and false perceptions of the aggressors, which we later also do with their children.

Another focus is the importance of communication with their children. How well do you know your child? Who are their best friends? Did you tell your child you loved them today?

At the beginning of the sessions, parents get impatient and want it to end soon. However, once we begin showing them videos, present them with possible danger situations, and tools to protect their children they don´t want the session to end.

For each session parents receive a prize (recyclable bags, posters, and postcards) that promote participation. This spreads the message of sexual violence prevention between schools, family, and Instituto para el Desarrollo Humano.