Everyone has a right to knowledge : Developing culture sensitivity in sexuality education workshops
Velling, Johanna (2017)
Velling, Johanna
Diakonia-ammattikorkeakoulu
2017
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Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-201703203492
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-201703203492
Tiivistelmä
Velling, Johanna. Everyone has a right to knowledge: Developing culture sensitivity in Youth Exit’s school workshops. Spring 2017, 88 p, 3 appendices. Language: English. Diaconia University of Applied Sciences, Degree Programme in Social Services, Option in Community Development, Bachelor of Social Services (UAS).
This development-oriented thesis evaluates culture sensitivity of a workshop model that was developed to be used in Finnish secondary schools as a part of sexuality education. The workshop material is a product of Youth Exit, a function of the non-governmental organisation Exit - Pois Prostituutiosta ry (Exit- Away from prostitution). Youth Exit works in the area of primary prevention of sexual maltreatment of youth. The school workshop model evaluated in this thesis is a form of this preventive work.
The workshop is 45-minute session offered to eighth- and ninth-graders to complement the sexuality education provided in schools. The workshop handles themes like sexual self-determination, sexual rights and responsibilities, law and support services related to sexual maltreatment. Secondary school teachers of the Finnish capital area are able to order a workshop for their classes. The workshops are conducted by trained volunteers.
The aim of this thesis was to evaluate the workshop model in order to improve its culture sensitivity and make it more inclusive towards culturally diverse youth. The thesis is a developmental evaluation process. The stages of the process covered and reported in this thesis are defining of the development purpose; organisation and literature review; forming a knowledge base; and evaluation. The evaluation was made with the benchmarking method to reveal good practices for attaining culture sensitivity. The thesis also presents the findings of the evaluation and concrete suggestions for improving Youth Exit’s model.
The findings of the evaluation process suggest that the main elements for culture sensitive workshops are making space for self-defining and self- determination; a safe space for expressing oneself and consideration towards special needs of minorities. The findings also highlight the role of the workshop facilitator, whose ability to understand own culture and ability to self-reflection are vital to culture sensitive practise. The findings consider this specific workshop in the field of sexuality education but can be beneficial in other kind of settings where culture related topics are discussed in diverse groups. The evaluated model is targeted to youth but the findings are applicable also in the work with adults.
This development-oriented thesis evaluates culture sensitivity of a workshop model that was developed to be used in Finnish secondary schools as a part of sexuality education. The workshop material is a product of Youth Exit, a function of the non-governmental organisation Exit - Pois Prostituutiosta ry (Exit- Away from prostitution). Youth Exit works in the area of primary prevention of sexual maltreatment of youth. The school workshop model evaluated in this thesis is a form of this preventive work.
The workshop is 45-minute session offered to eighth- and ninth-graders to complement the sexuality education provided in schools. The workshop handles themes like sexual self-determination, sexual rights and responsibilities, law and support services related to sexual maltreatment. Secondary school teachers of the Finnish capital area are able to order a workshop for their classes. The workshops are conducted by trained volunteers.
The aim of this thesis was to evaluate the workshop model in order to improve its culture sensitivity and make it more inclusive towards culturally diverse youth. The thesis is a developmental evaluation process. The stages of the process covered and reported in this thesis are defining of the development purpose; organisation and literature review; forming a knowledge base; and evaluation. The evaluation was made with the benchmarking method to reveal good practices for attaining culture sensitivity. The thesis also presents the findings of the evaluation and concrete suggestions for improving Youth Exit’s model.
The findings of the evaluation process suggest that the main elements for culture sensitive workshops are making space for self-defining and self- determination; a safe space for expressing oneself and consideration towards special needs of minorities. The findings also highlight the role of the workshop facilitator, whose ability to understand own culture and ability to self-reflection are vital to culture sensitive practise. The findings consider this specific workshop in the field of sexuality education but can be beneficial in other kind of settings where culture related topics are discussed in diverse groups. The evaluated model is targeted to youth but the findings are applicable also in the work with adults.