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ok so for the 5th year RETV a local tv station has embarked upon its fifth season of its annual RETV high tour. A two or three months tour of jamaican artists visiting various high schools telling the youngsters about safe sex, and educating them about issues surrounding sexual reproductive health and rights.
A wonderful idea i must say and the fact that it is backed by the ministry of health just solidifiies the fact that jamaica is moving forward. for the past two years i have had the privilege to participate in this experience: interviewing the artistes and helping out in their sessions however this year after reading the daily gleaner i realise that though the line up of artistes are probably the best ever the theme for this season is totally irrelevant and will have little impact.
under the theme " abstinence mek sense" the tour was kicked off couple weeks ago at a popular high school. with local artistes preaching about the old traditional method of abstinence and how it is the best way... while i agree with the statement and yes the theme as well atleast 1/2 of these students are having sex already with atleast a 1/4 planning on or have done sexual things but just havent done the whole thing.
while we would want to believe that our young bright, talented child, brother, sister or cousin is not thinking about sex or worst having sex the sad relaity is that they are. the invention of social networks, chat rooms, pronography whether print or television and lets not for get these overly sexual commercials which are just advertising simple hosue products, have become very easy to access by youngsters and as such alot of them have fallen prey.
my concern is that for a popular and well supported initiative that has such a huge impact on youngsters the messages needs to target the larger and more popular groups.. i mean unless these others issues such as children being overly exposed to sex in the media our youth will continue to be curious, and are going to want to experiment.
we need tp promote more comprehensive sex ed programmes, more condom usage demonstartions, more informative seeions on hiv/aids and other diseases.
vanessaaishacoleman
| 7/21/09 09:26 PM
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