Issue 68: June 2011 - Youth Work Ireland

DYS Daybreak and Breakout groups organised an ArtExhibition focusing on the Lets Talk about SexCampaign. The Art pieces where shown in theRegional Cultural Centre during LTAS week. TheDaybreak project also ran Sexual Health Awarenesssessions with participants during LTAS week.The LOFT Youth Project focused on Sex andRelationships during LTAS week, the Hify group willlook at myth‐busting and Q&A with expert. PeerLeader group will also do myth busting workshop.Q&A box was be set up in the LOFT for young peopleto ask questions, and answers were posted on theLOFT webpage and DYS Facebook pages.Let’s Talk About Sex Facebook PageDYS established a Facebook page to increaseawareness and publicise events during the SexualHealth Awareness Week at:www.facebook.com/letstalkaboutsexdonegalThe Lets Talk About Sex Facebook page is up andrunning and has been used so far to give informationon upcoming events and to discuss various TVprogrammes featuring sexual health awareness. Staffalso set up a survey on survey monkey and havelinked this survey to the Facebook pageLocal RadioA local radio station hosted 5 speakers over 5 dayswith a different focus each day.Monday: An older woman talked about how peopledidn’t talk about sex in ‘her day’ and a youngerwoman talked about Irish society now.Tuesday: DYS Youth Information Officer along withtwo young people talked about the Internet,pornography and the mixed messages young peopleare being bombarded with.Activities by Other AgenciesLetterkenny Women’s Centre are launching theirYoung Womens Sexual and Reproductive Health CareClinic.HSE Health Promotion are co‐ordinating three ‘Underthe Goosebury Bush’ courses for parents in relationshipsand sexuality education.Schools were slower to come on board but DYS hadsome contact with an update on their currentprovision and ongoing programme. One schoolinvited in two youth workers to deliver an STIinformation session to 4th Years. Another schoolinvited in our LGBT youth worker to run sessions onsexuality as part of SPHE with Leaving Certs, 1st and4th Years and linking into the Healthy SchoolsProgramme.Overall the week went really well, it was anexperiment to try and dispel the notion of sex as ataboo subject. Donegal Youth Service are keen tomake sure the event takes place again next year andwould welcome contact from other groups whowould like to get involved and initiate similar weekfor young people in their area.For further information please contactLorraine ThompsonRegional DirectorDonegal Youth Service16‐18 Port RoadLetterkennyCo. DonegalTel: 074 9129630Fax: 074 9127612Web: www.donegalyouthservice.ieWednesday: A HSE Officer talked about parents andtalking to your child about sex.Thursday: A parent of a young lesbian and herdaughter told their story.Friday: The Womens centre staff talked about theirnew sexual health clinic and sex education project.Irish Youth Work Scene 10 Issue 68, June 2011