Today’s lesson will focus on teenage advocacy

Can you guess why we chose this topic? We have learned about some of the challenges and problems that young people can face growing up, like continuing to learn while schools are closed or experiencing violence in the home. One way for young people to help prevent and respond to these challenges is to become advocates in their own communities. We will focus on ways you can be a teenage advocate today.

After this lesson, you will be able to:

1. Define advocacy and being an advocate

2. Recall two acts that protect adolescents, the Child Rights Act and the sexual offences act

3. Explain how teenagers can be advocates for girls’ rights in Sierra Leone

*This podcast is created from the recordings prepared for the Sierra Leone Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education Radio Teaching Programme. The programme is coordinated by the Directorate of Non-Formal Education, with support from UNFPA and Irish Aid.

Today’s episode will focus on Female Genital Mutilation

Can you guess why I chose this topic? Female genital mutilation, otherwise known as FGM or Bondo, affects many girls and women in Sierra Leone and indirectly impacts us all, both men and women, girls and boys. It is important for you to learn about the different types of female genital mutilation (FGM and the harms that it causes to girls. It is also important for us to examine common beliefs about female genital mutilation, to understand which are false and which are facts; and to consider what you can do to stop FGM in your home or community.

We know that this is a very sensitive topic and there will be some difficult issues discussed in the following segments. If anything makes you feel upset, please find somebody you trust to speak with.

After this episode, you will be able to:

1. Explain what female genital mutilation is and the different types

2. Correctly explain the facts about FGM, including the possible consequences

3. Discuss the human rights that FGM violates

4. Describe what you can do to stop FGM

*This podcast is created from the recordings prepared for the Sierra Leone Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education Radio Teaching Programme. The programme is coordinated by the Directorate of Non-Formal Education, with support from UNFPA and Irish Aid.

Today’s episode will focus on Decision Making and Sex

Why should we discuss the right age to have sex? We chose this topic because critical thinking is one of the most important life skills we use to make good decisions. So it makes sense to use critical thinking for a life-changing decision like having sex. It is important to think about how your life will be changed, in both good ways and riskier ways. What are benefits and what are the risks? Who is responsible? What will they gain? What will they lose? Who gets to decide when you have sex?

We appreciate that it is often easier for people to think about what is best – when it is about someone else’s life. So we all need to learn how to take our own good advice.

After this episode, you will be able to:

1. Examine your own and other people’s views about when to begin having sex

2. Apply the steps for critical thinking when making decisions about sex

3. Practice communicating with a partner about using prevention

*This podcast is created from the recordings prepared for the Sierra Leone Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education Radio Teaching Programme. The programme is coordinated by the Directorate of Non-Formal Education, with support from UNFPA and Irish Aid.

Today’s episode will focus on Gender Based Violence

Can you guess why I chose this topic? Gender-Based Violence directly affects many girls and women and indirectly impacts us all, both men and women. It is important for you to understand what it is and to know that no matter the circumstance, it is always wrong.

We know that this is a very sensitive topic and there will be some difficult issues discussed in the following segments. If anything makes you feel upset, please find somebody you trust to speak with. Please remember that today’s episode is for girls and boys aged 14-19 years.

After this episode, you will be able to:

1. State the definition of gender-based violence

2. Recognise different forms of gender-based violence

3. Critically reflect on your views on situations of violence faced by women and girls

*This podcast is created from the recordings prepared for the Sierra Leone Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education Radio Teaching Programme. The programme is coordinated by the Directorate of Non-Formal Education, with support from UNFPA and Irish Aid.

Today’s episode will focus on Gender Inequality

Can you guess why I chose this topic? When we talk about sex and gender, these are topics that a lot of you will already have your own thoughts and views about. We want to encourage you to think for yourselves about your views, especially regarding gender, and learn to apply critical thinking to test your assumptions. So we will not be focusing on what is the right or wrong viewpoint but encourage you to question your own ideas.

After this episode, you will be able to:

1) Understand how gender and power are related

2) Recognise and define the term “gender inequality”

3) Consider how beliefs and judgments about boys and girls hinder their development

4) Reflect on Ella Koblo Gullama’s story about how people around us can end gender inequality

Today’s episode will focus on preventing pregnancy

Why do you think we choose this topic? We believe it is necessary for adolescents to acquire knowledge about prevention of pregnancy to be able to have a positive attitude towards sexuality and relationships that can support other people in making good decisions.

After this episode, you will be able to:

i) Recognize and understand the ABC model for sexual health

ii) Reflect on how you can use the ABC model for safe behavior regarding sex

iii) Distinguish between safe and unsafe sex

*This podcast is created from the recordings prepared for the Sierra Leone Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education Radio Teaching Programme. The programme is coordinated by the Directorate of Non-Formal Education, with support from UNFPA and Irish Aid.

Today’s episode will focus on Fertility and Pregnancy

Can you guess why I chose this topic? That’s because it is important for girls and boys to understand fertility because when they are better informed they can make good decisions for themselves and give good advice to their friends to take care of their health.

After this episode, you will be able to:

1) Define male and female fertility

2) Describe how pregnancy happens

3) List some reasons why some teenage girls and boys have sex

*This podcast is created from the recordings prepared for the Sierra Leone Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education Radio Teaching Programme. The programme is coordinated by the Directorate of Non-Formal Education, with support from UNFPA and Irish Aid.

Today’s episode will focus on Solving Conflicts.

Can you guess why we chose this topic? We recognize that it can be hard to listen well during disagreements so it is important for adolescents to learn WIN-WIN ways to listen and communicate – where both people are satisfied with the results.

After this episode, you will be able to:

1. Recognise a “Win-Win” approach to resolving conflicts with another person

2. Demonstrate the Five Steps model to resolving conflicts

3. Apply clear communication to say “No” when somebody asks you to do something you don’t want to do.

*This podcast is created from the recordings prepared for the Sierra Leone Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education Radio Teaching Programme. The programme is coordinated by the Directorate of Non-Formal Education, with support from UNFPA and Irish Aid.

Today’s episode will focus on listening skills

Why do you think we choose this topic? We are focusing on listening skills because they are an important part of communicating with others. In Sierra Leone, as a teenager you get a lot of information through your ears – from the radio, from videos, from listening to your parents and other elders, religious leaders, teachers and your friends. Good listening is a skill that takes practice and it’s important to improve your listening skills as it affects what you know and how you live.

After this episode, you will be able to:

i) Define active listening

ii) Describe good and bad listening skills

iii) Explain what is meant by the term mixed messages

Today’s episode will focus on Gender Differences

Can you guess why I chose this topic? That’s because it is important for girls and boys to learn about the difference between sex and gender and to question our views about how men and women should behave. When we talk about sex and gender, these are topics that a lot of you will already have your own thoughts and views about. We want to encourage you to think for yourselves about your views, especially regarding gender, and learn to apply critical thinking to test your assumptions. So we will not be focusing on what is the right or wrong viewpoint but encourage you to question your own ideas.

After this episode, you will be able to;

1) Recognise the differences between sex and gender

2) Explain what gender stereotypes are and why we believe in them

3) Rcognise double standards between men and women 

4) Debate the reasons for double standards and reflect on how they affect our lives

*This podcast is created from the recordings prepared for the Sierra Leone Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education Radio Teaching Programme. The programme is coordinated by the Directorate of Non-Formal Education, with support from UNFPA and Irish Aid.