Ideas for Action

Community organizations play an important role in providing safe, private and up-to-date information and resources for youth around sexuality. Due to the disconnect some youth feel with older people such as teachers or parents giving them information about sexuality, many participants felt more comfortable going to community organizations for support.

I think that just establishing the fact that you’re there for them; you are there to help them, is a very big thing. As a young male, just knowing that there is a support system in place to help me out is a very big thing, whatever the problem is. You don’t necessarily have to go to your parents. I can talk to people like you, for instance, about certain things. Just knowing that I can do that - that there are different options if I’m too scared to talk to my parents. If I am too scared to see my friends or teacher, I can seek different organizations. I think that is a very big thing.

In order to get the word out to youth, and especially to ERM youth, some felt that extra resources should also be put into community organizations to create more anonymous phone lines where youth can call in for help without fearing that they will be identified or that their parents will find out they were inquiring about sex. Resources could also be put into outreach to ERM youth, by sending pamphlets to settlement and other agencies that serve newcomers, as well as sending information to high schools.

School-based sexuality education is another area that participants felt needed improvement in the future. Access to relevant information would be better if students were not required to have parental consent in order to attend sexuality education classes. Some also said that the information was presented only once when they were young, and felt it would be useful to go over sexuality education again each year in high school.

The approach and content of school-based sexuality education can also be changed to make them more meaningful to youth. One participant felt that the focus should not be based on fear, negativity and abstinence, as this can cause alienation or retaliation among youth.

With school, don’t put such a high emphasis on ‘Oh, you will get an STI disease if you try it’, ‘cause that’s how it feels like at school . . . you do that, you’re just challenging the guys to be more brave about it.

Others felt that a more positive, pro-active approach would help youth to deal with the realities of what to do after becoming sexually active, or if they become pregnant. One suggested that schools “demystify” the process of going to a community clinic by taking students there on a school trip. Students might be more likely to go to community organizations for help once they knew where they were, what services they offer and if they encountered a safe and respectful environment. Another suggested that schools support young mothers by having daycares available for them on school premises, so they could continue attending classes.

The messengers who provide youth with information can also affect how many youth relate to the messages they are given and if they take it seriously.
Many youth mentioned that peer resources and peer learning would make information more accessible to youth. Finding other ERM youth in the position of providing sexuality-related services would also breach the information and service gaps for ERM youth. This kind of peer support could come from programs in schools and community organizations. Participants felt that the closer the presenters were to them in age, ethnic background and life experiences, the more youth would listen and find the information relevant.

I think [it helps to have] different speakers available that have been through the same kinds of struggles that are actually in the same age range as the youth

Even with sex ed. class, maybe having people closer to the students’ age group, 18, 19, 20 years old, talk to the teenagers. Being a 14 or 15 year old in school, having to hear a 50-year-old male talk about that type of stuff, I just didn’t really connect.

Youth wanted to see more messages in the media that were directed to and presented by ethno-racial minority youth. Participants suggested that media can be used to pass on relevant and accurate information to youth to help them make informed decisions about sexuality.

Probably the best way is to get actual individuals, don’t get these actors and stuff like that, you know? Get the people who have been through it, who’ve had the problems and issues, to be in a commercial or whatever. Then they could more or less share the same similarities.

Targeting the ethnic media would be a good idea . . . it’s like how people sell cereal to kids – you get the kids to tell the parents that they want it . . . get the kids to teach the parents, 'cause they are in a new country.

One participant also suggested that organizations should place informational ads in ethnic community newspapers to reach ERM youth.

Cultural events can also help to reach ERM youth and present information in a culturally appropriate way. Youth felt that cultural “gatherings” or other social events could both “bring people together” and “bring across ideas”. Organizations, communities and schools could organize these events to discuss issues facing ERM youth. One participant felt it would be useful to bring together parents and youth in this type of discussion.

I think - one thing I’d like to see. I’m not sure how well it will work out; but just seeing different forums with both kids and parents present at the same time. Sometimes all you need is a base so that they can open up to each other. Sometimes, they just don’t know how to bring up a subject.

Creating safe spaces for ERM youth and parents to come together could help them to begin a discussion about important and sensitive issues.