Let’s Talk About Puberty

Name of the activity: Let’s Talk About Puberty

Country/NMO: Qatar (QMSA)

Program: Realizing Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights

Contact information: [email protected]|N+97477719423

Type of the activity: Education. Education on health issues for specific societal groups, either in the form of projects (set of tasks for a certain group over a fixed period of time), events (something notable that happens) or conferences (form meeting about ideas related to a particular topic, usually over several days).

General description:

Puberty is a time of change and growth that can be both exciting and frightening. Knowing what will happen and how to cope with puberty is the first step towards adapting well to adolescence and helping children to stay healthy, take good care of themselves, and make good decisions. Let’s Talk about Puberty event project is initiated to provide interactive and educational activities to children aged between 9 and 14 years old about Puberty, Menstruation, Physical Space and Touch, and Self-Love.

Focus area:

Comprehensive Sexuality Education

Problem statement:

In Qatar, there is a lack of children and young people education around puberty, physical space, and self-love. The Qatar Foundation for Child and Women Protection reported 2,583 cases involving children including sexual, physical, and emotional abuse. Furthermore, a qualitative study to investigate health beliefs and practices of college Qatari women issued evidence that Qatari women were in need for information about puberty and did not feel prepared for menarche.

Target groups:

Medical students, Healthcare Students, Children, Children aged between 9 and 14 years old

Beneficiaries:

General population, Children

Objectives and indicators of success:

• Train working group members who volunteered to be part of the event to deliver SRHR related topics and ensure team-building.

The success indicators are:

o Number of Working group members

o Pre and Post event surveys

• To educate children about what puberty is and help them identify the physical and mental changes that occur during this life-stage and the coping strategies. This objective will be fulfilled through interactive educational activities.

• To educate children about physical space and touch and the personal safety rules to maintain healthy boundaries. This objective will be fulfilled through interactive educational activities.

• To boost self-esteem and highlight self-love. This objective will be fulfilled through interactive educational activities.

The success indicators are:

o Number of children participants.

o Children interaction during the activities.

o The feedback received from children and parents.

Methodology:

*The activities highlighted the following aspects:

• Puberty

o Basics of Puberty

o Physical and emotional changes

o Coping strategies

o Maintaining Good Health and Hygiene

• Menstruation

o Quick basic Anatomy Education

o Basics of Menstruation

o Menstrual cycle

o Physical and Emotional Changes

o Coping Strategies

o Menstrual Hygiene

• Physical space and touch

o Private Body Parts

o Good and Bad Touch

o Personal Boundaries

o understand and ensure the protection of their rights throughout their lives

• Self-Love

o Foster self-esteem and Compassion.

o Develop and enjoy respectful and fulfilling relationships.

o Develop the skills to maintain healthy relationships with self and others and give meaning to expressing emotions and needs.

*Giveaways included:

• Puberty Coping Strategies Cards

• Puberty Kit

• Menstrual Cycle Bracelet

• Track your period calendar

• A small bottle containing positive self-esteem boosting message written by another child.

Plans for evaluation:

• Number of Working members registered for each cycle of the event

• Assessment of working members by direct observation and pre and post- evaluations.

• Number of Children Participants

• Assessment of awareness given by direct observation, and quick Q&A method.

• A discussion is conducted with children participants at the end of the activity to evaluate their position and attitude and hear their experiences and thoughts.

• A discussion is conducted with the parents to receive their feedback.

• Numbers of interested parties that reached out at the end of activity.