Foreword
This “Digital Guide” is part of the project LoveAct, which aims to reduce the risk of gender-based violence and teen-dating violence by equipping teenagers, parents and educational staff with knowledge and competences in Comprehensive Sexual Education.
LoveAct aims at:
- Co-creating tools on CSE that are high-quality, evidence-based, intersectional, and appealing to multiple targets, including teenagers, families and educational staff.
- Training teachers, educators, parents and adults in general on how to address issues related to GBV, stereotypes and norms among teenagers;
- Empowering teenagers to build safe and healthy relationships and improve their well-being through CSE.
- Raising awareness on the need of CSE, as a tool to prevent GBV.
Among the activities foreseen for this project…
…we offer:
- Educational, informative and networking tools and materials on Sex-Ed, available on The Gender Talk online platform.
- Sex-Ed Councils established in 7 European cities.
- Co-creative and training activities involving teenagers and families aimed at exploring their personal stories and memories with regards to affectivity and sexuality, as well as acquiring concrete knowledge on sexuality and affectivity.
- International and local Training Workshops for professionals, aimed at acquiring methodologies, approaches, activities and tools on CSE.
- Events and social media campaigns for raising awareness on sex-ed.
The present Digital Guide is meant as a tool for young people’ self-training on Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE). Ideally, it is the place where you will find everything you would like to know about:
Navigating Relationships
Module 1 explores relationships, with their dynamics, boundaries and connections. It defines healthy relationships, helps navigating sexual and romantic relationships, and explores the diversity of family relationships.
Understanding gender
Module 2 allows you to discover the diversity of gender identities and expressions, sexual orientations and other characteristics related to sex and gender.
Preventing Gender-Based Violence
Module 3 addresses the topic of Gender-Based Violence delving into root causes and consequences. It speaks about consent, and helps navigating online environments safely.
Comprehending Sexual Health
Module 4 discloses sexual health, defining puberty and anatomy, contraceptive methods, Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs), menstruation and many other topics related to health.
Culture & Sexuality
Module 5 explores how cultural aspects influence our relationship with sexuality, addressing intersectional discriminations, cultural normativity, body image and religious influences.
Disability & Sexuality
Module 6 takes into account how disabled people navigate sexual relationships, addressing the structural and social barriers in our society.
Aside from the many written theoretical texts, in each module you will also find quotes and audio recordings coming from young people and families across Europe (read more about this experience on the LoveAct Roadmap), as well as short videos, infographics and illustrations.
The Guide can be also used with teachers and educators, in order to open group discussions, brainstorming of key concepts and implement non-formal activities with your group of peers.
Acknowledgements
This guide was developed by the LoveAct partnership with a strong co-creative intent, which started with the creation of 6 Co-Design Working Groups, composed of the project’s partners and additional experts on CSE, the so-called Master Trainers, coordinated by CESIE as Lead Partner and Elan Interculturel as leader of the activity. The very first version of the Guide was tested in a Joint Staff Meeting, hosted by Symplexis in Athens, Greece in December 2023, and further revised by the project team.
We are particularly grateful to the following members of the different national Sex-Ed Councils active in Palermo, Paris, Nicosia, Athens, Vilnius, Leuven and Madrid, who provided valuable contributions to the development process by offering information, review, feedback and other technical assistance:
Deep appreciation is also expressed to the colleagues of the Faculty of Education of Bilbao, the University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU and KideON research group.
A huge thanks goes also to CESIE’s Youth Advisory Board, who was the first to go through the texts through the eyes of young people, advising how to better reach our main target audience.
Copy-editing and proofreading of the manuscript was done by Giulia Di Gilio, CESIE – Italy. Graphic design and illustration was done by the artist Marianna Giuliana, CESIE – Italy.
LoveAct – Living positive and intersectional sexuality education for gender-based violence prevention (n. 101094068 – LOVEACT) is co-funded by the European Union and running from 01/03/2023 to 28/02/2025 in Italy, France, Greece, Lithuania, Belgium, Cyprus, Spain and Basques Countries.
Project number 101094068 – LOVEACT
Project Coordinator: CESIE, Italy
Project Partners:
- Elan Interculturel, France
- CSI, Cyprus
- Symplexis, Greece
- DDG, Lithuania
- The Square Dot Team, Belgium
- InteRed, Spain
- UPV/EHU, Basque Countries
Authors:
- Francesca Barbino, Alice Valenza, Shu De Francesco, Gea Di Bella – CESIE, Italy
- María Alonso Salmerón, Carla Johannes, Salomé Darrigrand and the team Brûlant.e.s – Elan Interculturel, France
- Sofia Constantinou, Katerina Louvari – CSI, Cyprus
- Filippos Paganis, Greg Chryssikos – Symplexis, Greece
- Lina Januškevičiūtė, Kęstutis Grumodas – DDG, Lithuania
- The Square Dot Team, Belgium
- Alba Gómez Gil, Elena Alfageme, Eloísa Chao – InteRed, Spain
- Nahia Idoiaga, Idoia Legorburu – UPV/EHU, Basque Country