HIV prevention and awareness education for young people

Oasis Esteem Education Approach
Oasis Education Charter

Oasis Esteem Education Approach

ACET’s HIV prevention and awareness education for young people adopts the following five key principles, which underpin all Oasis Esteem programmes:

Informative

All programmes make use of the latest information and approaches to PSHCE, providing young people with factually accurate information about, for example, sexual health, drugs and alcohol, and options for healthy living.

Programmes provide young people with a broad range of information and approaches to healthy living. They do not preach or present just one lifestyle, doctrine or option. The ACET Educator adopts a non-judgemental approach.

Sessions enable young people to make informed decisions about their attitudes, behaviour and beliefs. Consideration is given to relationships, rights, responsibilities and choices.
Though practical, sessions are also cognitively challenging.
Participative

All programmes make use of creative learning methods, such as role-play, video, group work, competitions and case studies. Young people often describe the sessions as being fun.

Sessions are interactive, enabling young people to derive maximum learning by asking questions and debating issues. Of primary importance is not what the ACET Educator believes but what the young people believe.
Challenging

All programmes are designed to challenge and, when appropriate, change young people’s behaviour, attitudes and beliefs.

Sessions deal with complex and personal issues with sensitivity.
Appropriate

All programmes are tailored to the age and ability of the group, and in accordance with the school’s policies on sex education.
Values-based

All programmes adopt a holistic approach, enabling young people to recognise the physical, emotional, social and spiritual consequences of their attitudes, behaviour and beliefs.

Sessions help to promote young people’s self-esteem, assertiveness, negotiation skills and respect for others.

All programmes promote young people’s healthy living and well-being. ACET is committed to reducing levels of unwanted or unprotected sex among young people.

Oasis Education Charter

Oasis Education Charter, which is set out below.

Oasis Esteem offers schools and community organisations quality Personal, Social Health and Citizenship Education (PSHCE) programmes. All Associate Educators are required to work in accordance with the following charter:

Oasis Esteem’s Associate Educators will ALWAYS:

Contact the school prior to the visit to agree the content of the lesson(s) to be delivered, giving due consideration to the group’s level of ability, understanding and previous knowledge. This promotes partnership.
Plan and structure their work so as to create a positive learning environment for young people, teaching staff and Associate Educators alike. They will also ensure their material is participative, educative and up-to-date. This promotes quality.
Promote values such as respect, inclusion and empowerment through their speech, actions and behaviour and, in so doing, offer themselves to young people as positive role models. This promotes integrity.
Ensure their attire and general appearance are appropriate for both the learning environment and group. They will also be punctual and disciplined in their use of time. This promotes professionalism.
Recognise the authority of teaching staff when in school. They will also require a teacher to be present during all lessons/ programmes delivered. This is to ensure continuity within the school’s PSHE curriculum and, if necessary, the maintenance of appropriate discipline within the group. This promotes accountability.
Conduct regular evaluations with both teachers and pupils. This promotes continuous improvement.
Work in accordance with the school’s equal opportunities policy guidelines, acknowledging the diversity of race, colour, nationality or ethnic origin, gender, disability, sexual orientation, educational status and religion. This promotes equality.
Work in accordance with the school’s sex education policy, guidance from the Department for Education and Skills and statutory legislation. This promotes responsibility.
Work in accordance with the School’s child protection policy.

Oasis Esteem’s Associate Educators will NEVER:

Enter into a counselling relationship with young people as part of the Oasis Esteem programme. Being neither counsellors nor health professionals, when asked, Associate Educators will refer young people to appropriate agencies both in and/ or outside of the school.
Have inappropriate contact with pupils in or outside of the school. Instead, they will work in accordance with recognised ’good practice’ guidelines.
Preach or present just one lifestyle, doctrine or option for healthy living.
Instead, they will provide young people with a range of options, based on factual information.

Last updated June 2011