Last week I did one of my first Peace Corps volunteer activities. I co-facilitated a capacitacion, or workshop/training. And I had less than a day to prepare for it. It was a training through this NGO(non-government organization) called Plan Nicaragua. They were sponsoring this training of teen leaders. They were receiving a charla series of 12 topics specifically for adolescents and then are going to go replicate the charla in their communities. There were 15 teens, aged 12-18.
Over two days, I gave 5 charlas sola. The head nurse helped me a bit occasionally, but I was pretty much on my own. The topics were:
Deberes: your duties as an adolescent
Ley 392: There's a law that talks about the rights, duties, and values of adolescence(very dry)
Prevencion del Embarazo en la adolescencia: Preventing teen pregancy(big issue in Nicaragua)
Violencia Intrafamiliar: Domestic violence
Drogas: Drugs
The lesson plan was all set up by Plan Nicaragua, I just had to make some posters, cut out paper, and prepare a few dinamicas or ice breakers. I felt like it went really well. My Spanish was definitely tested because I had to think on my feet a lot and explain some different topics. All in all, an exciting first experience.
Good for you! The most frequent cause of death for the adolescent female Nica is pregnancy, so this is a very important issue. The culture of male priveledge, male supremacy and machismo here means that there's a lot of pressure on girls to have sex without protection. There is also a high level of incest by fathers, brothers, other male relatives, resulting in 9,10,11,12-year old girls made pregnant; abortion is illegal...period. Even to save a 9 year old's life. With over 50% of Nicas being under 18, adolescents of both sexes really need to be taught equality of the sexes and safe sex.
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