Today’s episode will focus on Say no to Drugs!

Why do you think we choose this topic? We chose it because it is important for young people to understand the facts about drugs and alcohol, including the risks involved in using them, so that they can make good decisions for their health and wellbeing.

After this episode, you will be able to:

i) Define terms such as drugs, dependence, and addiction

ii) Recognise what are legal and illegal drugs

iii) Explain some of the negative impacts drugs and alcohol can have in your life

iv) Reflect on how peer pressure can negatively influence young people’s choices about drugs and alcohol

*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 Mental Health matters

Why do you think we choose this topic? We chose it because mental health is one of the least understood parts of our health and yet it is important to each one of us. Many people have mental illnesses and are treated badly by others and made to feel different because many people are afraid of mental illness and do not understand it. Young people can be champions in removing this stigma and the first step is by understanding mental health.

After this episode, you will be able to:

1. Define the meaning of mental health

2. List different types of physical and mental illnesses

3. Explain how we can respond when we see someone showing symptoms of a mental illness

4. Understand that mental illness is no different from illness in other parts of the body

*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 is called Smoking Kills

Why do you think we choose this topic? We chose it because it is important for young people to understand the facts about cigarettes and diamba, to understand the negative impacts that smoking has on your health and to be able to say no when people around you pressure you to smoke.

After this episode, you will be able to:

1) List  the substances in cigarettes and diamba that harm our health

2) Explain how smoking damages our lungs

3) Describe how you can say no to peer pressure to smoke

*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 HIV Awareness

Why do you think we choose this topic? In recent episode we learned about prevention of teenage pregnancy and some of the consequences of engaging in early sex, including early motherhood. Today, we will learn more about one of the health impacts of engaging in early sex called HIV, how this can be prevented and the consequences of getting a HIV infection from sex. This information will help you make informed decisions to delay sex and to help you know the facts in the future.

After this episode, you will be able to:

1. Define the term HIV

2. Explain how to seek HIV testing and treatment

3. Dispel some myths about HIV

4. Understand how to prevent getting HIV

*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 Child Rights and Responsibilities

Why do you think we choose this topic? In previous episodes we learned about different laws that protect girls and boys from violence in Sierra Leone, including the Domestic Violence act and the Sexual Offences. Today we will look at the main legal protection for children, the Child rights Act and we will learn about the wide range of rights afforded to children through this act.

After this episode, you will be able to:

1. Explain what is the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child

2. List important parts of Child Rights’ Act of 2007

3. Explain how rights come with responsibilities

4. Describe how to take action if your rights are not respected by adults

*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 how Sex can cause sickness

Why do you think we choose this topic? In recent episodes we learned about prevention of teenage pregnancy and some of the consequences of engaging in early sex, including early motherhood. Today, we will learn more about some of the health impacts of engaging in early sex, how these can be prevented and the consequences of getting an infection from sex. This information will help you make informed decisions to delay sex and to help you know the facts in the future.

After this episode, you will be able to:

i) Understand what is meant by the term Sexually Transmitted Infection/STI

ii) List some of the Signs and Symptoms of STIs

iii) Describe how to prevent the spread of STIs

iv) Explain some of the consequences of STIs

*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 Sexual violence against girls

Why do you think we choose this topic? In previous episodes we learned about different forms of violence that girls and boys experience in Sierra Leone, including domestic violence. In this episode, we will learn more about sexual violence and how it affects girls. We will learn that sexual violence or harassment breaks the human rights of women and girls and that it is also against the law in Sierra Leone.

After this episode, you will be able to:

1) Define what is meant by the term sexual violence

2) Explain what the law says about the Sexual Offenses Act

3) Understand that rape cause be perpetrated by anyone

4) Explain how we can support girls who are raped

*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 more about contraceptives

Why do you think we choose this topic? In our previous lessons we started to learn about how to prevent teenage pregnancy. In today’s lesson we will continue to learn about ways that mature couples plan their families in Sierra Leone. When you plan your family, you can completed your education, achieve your goals and begin a family when the time is right. Today we are going to learn more ways to prevent pregnancy, which is information that will be useful to you in the future. This doesn’t mean you are ready for sex, it just means that you are old enough to learn more about prevention.

After this episode, you will be able to:

i) List the ABCDEs of sex

ii) Explain the advantages and disadvantages of the pill

iii) Explain the advantages and disadvantages of contraceptive injections

iv) Know where to get advice on family planning options

*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 stop gender based violence

Why do you think we choose this topic?  In previous episodes we learned the about gender and that double standards means that men and boys are treated differently than woman and girls. Many children, both boys and girls may think it is okay to beat children and women in Sierra Leone. In this episode we will learn that any form of violence breaks the human rights of women and girls and that it is also against the law in Sierra Leone.

After this episode, you will be able to:

1. Define the term gender based violence

2. Describe different forms of violence that women and men, boys and girls can experience

3. Understand that it is against the law to use violence against women and girls

4. Explain what you can do to protect yourself from violence

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.

*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 Condoms for prevention

Why do you think we choose this topic? In our last episode we started to learn about how to prevent teenage pregnancy. In today’s episode we will continue to learn about ways that mature couples plan their families in Sierra Leone. When you plan your family, you can completed your education, achieve your goals and begin a family when the time is right. Today we are going to learn more ways to prevent pregnancy, which is information that will be useful to you in the future. This doesn’t mean you are ready for sex, it just means that you are old enough to learn more about prevention.

After this episode, you will be able to:

1) List the ABCDEs of sex

2) Define the term contraceptives

3) Explain the six steps of using a condom correctly

4) List the advantages of using condoms to prevent pregnancy and STIs

*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.