http://www.auntiestella.org/site/index/ en hello@versantus.co.uk Copyright 2006 2006-08-09T14:02:03+00:00 https://auntie.local.versantus.co.uk/site/activity_topics/ https://auntie.local.versantus.co.uk/site/activity_topics/#When:14:02:03Z Topic list 1.Should I sleep with him? 2.Is my penis too small? 3.Must I sleep with my sister’s husband? 4.I’m looking after someone with AIDS 5.I am the head of my family now 6.I want to have sex like all my friends! 7.I had an STI – am I infertile? 8.My teacher wants sex with me 9.My best friend’s gay and loves me! 10.My girlfriend’s pregnant! 11.I have strong sexual urges 12.I pay for lunch – don’t I deserve sex? 13.Pimples on my penis! 14.I may be HIV positive| 15.I’m worried about cervical cancer 16.I was raped 17.Should I have sex for money? 18.I have ‘wet dreams’ 19.What are antiretrovirals? 20.She wants to have sex with me 21.My periods are irregular 22.Should I tell him I’m HIV positive? 23.Will mbanje cure my shyness? 24.My parents are difficult 25.Must I tell her about my STI? 26.I’m HIV positive.  Am I going to die? 27.Can I be pregnant? 28.My girlfriend’s getting married 29.A teacher got my friend pregnant 30.My husband is unfaithful 31.I’m depressed for no reason 32.I don’t want this baby 33.My church says condoms are wrong 34.I’m gay – will anyone love me? 35.I have painful periods 36.My sugar daddy treats me badly 37.Love stops me from studying 38.My mother has HIV and says so 39.How can I cure my terrible pimples? 40.I’m HIV positive and pregnant 2006-08-09T14:02:03+00:00 https://auntie.local.versantus.co.uk/site/activity_themes/ https://auntie.local.versantus.co.uk/site/activity_themes/#When:08:27:00Z TEN SUGGESTED THEMES 1.Growing up 2.Sex and relationships 3.Safer sex 4.Forced sex 5.Unwanted pregnancy 6.Sexually transmitted infections 7.Living with HIV and AIDS 8.Speaking out 9.Relationships with family and community 10.Changing Society 2006-08-09T08:27:00+00:00 https://auntie.local.versantus.co.uk/site/adapting_existing/ https://auntie.local.versantus.co.uk/site/adapting_existing/#When:11:07:00Z How have people adapted ‘Auntie Stella’? In quite a few ways. In quite a few ways. Some organizations have changed the Talking and Action Points on a few selected cards and used them with parents so they can discuss how to communicate better with their children. Others have adapted the way they use the cards so that young people can read them in a variety of different settings. ‘Auntie Stella’ has also been translated from English into Shona and Ndebele. In 2006, organisations in Tanzania adapted some of the letters and replies and then translated them into Kiswahili; they also changed some of the names. Since then, Auntie Stella has also been translated into Portuguese and Chichewa. If you need help in adapting ‘Auntie Stella’, please contact us. Fair use And please remember that ‘Auntie Stella’ is copyrighted to the Training and Research Support Centre. We encourage wide use of the material for non-profit purposes but, under the copyright, we require that any organisation wanting to adapt the material first obtain permission from TARSC and comply with copyright requirements. Please send us an email for more information on what that means. See also Tarsc's fair use policy 2006-08-08T11:07:00+00:00 https://auntie.local.versantus.co.uk/site/adapting_basic/ https://auntie.local.versantus.co.uk/site/adapting_basic/#When:09:21:00Z Basic principles in adapting ‘Auntie Stella’ Everyone who works on the changes should have had some experience using ‘Auntie Stella’. Involve young people as much as possible, as well as organisations and community leaders. They can contribute realistic stories and ideas about the replies, and they can pre-test the language and content of the cards. Be clear about what you want each card to achieve. Keep the language simple, instructions clear and the tone informal. Auntie Stella should be sympathetic, never preaching or lecturing; her role is to give information and encourage young people to weigh up their options and make their own choices. Encourage young people to believe in themselves and their ability to change, and to set goals for what they want in life. Encourage them to make links with respected elders and community institutions – they do not have to solve their problems on their own. Encourage them to act to improve their sexual health and relationships; praise health- seeking behaviour. Increase awareness of stigma and discrimination, and build respect toward others, irrespective of their gender, their economic, social or religious status, or whether they are HIV positive or not. The Talking and Action Points should encourage discussion and give young people skills such as assessing risks and thinking critically about their own beliefs, relationships, cultures and societies. The Talking and Action Points should also help them to explore how to work together and with organisations, and to get involved in decisions that can improve their lives and make their voices heard. For more information on how to adapt ‘Auntie Stella’, look at pages 32–37 of the Facilitator’s and Adaptation Guide. 2006-08-08T09:21:00+00:00 https://auntie.local.versantus.co.uk/site/adapting_auntie_stella/ https://auntie.local.versantus.co.uk/site/adapting_auntie_stella/#When:08:26:00Z When is it useful to adapt ‘Auntie Stella’? ‘Auntie Stella’ has already been used with people of different ages, experiences, concerns and education, and in fact, many users make changes as they go along. However, sometimes people want to change it more formally, to suit more exactly the people they are working with, their situation and particular needs. If you decide to adapt ‘Auntie Stella’, there is plenty of advice in the Facilitator’s and Adaptation Guide. There are also some basic guidelines here. 2006-08-08T08:26:00+00:00 https://auntie.local.versantus.co.uk/site/using_words/ https://auntie.local.versantus.co.uk/site/using_words/#When:15:10:00Z Difficult words AIDS Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome, a disease caused by HIV. AIDS is when the body-protectors (immune system) are so weak that the person cannot fight illness. AIDS is passed on through sex, infected blood, or from mother to baby. Abstinence When you choose not to have sex, take drugs or drink alcohol. Addiction When you are dependent on drugs or alcohol; you can't live without them. Advocacy Group or individual action intended to change policies, attitudes or practices. ARVs Antiretrovirals - drugs that help slow down the effects of HIV. They can only be taken after a lot of tests and with professional guidance from a doctor. Assertive Being able to stand up for yourself and your own beliefs. Cancer A serious disease in which cells change in an abnormal way, causing growths. Cancer can affect women's breasts, the cervix, the stomach or other parts of the body. Cervix The opening of the womb, at the back of the vagina. Chiramu/Sibale A traditional custom aimed at socialising young girls to prepare them for adult life. It is sometimes abused by older male relatives who touch the girl's private parts. This is not part of the tradition. Conception When the woman's egg is fertilised by a man's sperm and she becomes pregnant. Depression A feeling of deep sadness and hopelessness which can cause loss of appetite and difficulty with sleeping. Severe depression requires medical help. Ejaculate When a man reaches his peak of sexual pleasure and his semen comes out. Erection When a man becomes sexually excited and his penis gets hard. Heterosexual (straight) A man or woman who is sexually attracted to someone of the opposite sex. HIV Human Immuno-Deficiency Virus. The virus that causes AIDS. HIV weakens the body-protectors that normally fight diseases. You can have the virus for years without being sick, but still give it to other people through sex, infected blood, or from mother to baby. Homosexual (gay or lesbian) A man or woman who is sexually attracted to someone of the same sex. Hormones Chemicals made by the body that tell it when and how to grow and develop. Infection A sickness caused by germs, bacteria or viruses. Intercourse Another name for sex. Kuzvarira/ Ukwendisela When parents pledge, or give, their daughter to an older man for marriage without her choice, usually to relieve economic burdens. Lobola Money or goods a man pays to the family of his future wife to formalise the marriage. Masturbation To stroke or rub your own private parts for sexual pleasure. Mbanje/Imbanje Also known as dope or grass, this is the drug, marijuana, which is illegal in Zimbabwe. Menstruation A woman's monthly bleeding, also known as her periods. Menstrual cycle The time between one monthly bleeding and the next - usually around 28 days. Morning after pill A special combination of contraceptive pills which can prevent pregnancy if taken not later than 72 hours after having unprotected sex. Opportunistic infection An illness commonly associated with HIV such as TB, pneumonia and oral thrush. These infections can be prevented or treated at clinics. Orgasm Also known as climax or coming. When the body reaches the highest moment of sexual pleasure and excitement. Ovaries Two small sacs (bags) on each side of a woman's womb. Ovaries produce eggs that join with a man's sperm to produce babies. Ovulate When an egg comes out of one of the ovaries in the middle of a woman's monthly cycle. A woman is most fertile (able to fall pregnant) when she is ovulating. Pap smear A test to check for early signs of cervical cancer. A tiny piece of skin is scraped from the cervix and examined. Paternity When a man is the father of a particular child. Penis A man's sexual organ. PEP Post-Exposure Prophylaxis is a treatment given soon after you have been exposed to a disease, to prevent you from becoming infected. If a person is exposed to HIV, treatment must start within 72 hours after exposure.This is used in cases of rape, for example. Promiscuous Someone who has many short-term sexual relationships by his or her own choice. Prostitute Also known as a commercial sex worker. Someone who has sex in exchange for money, goods or other favours, often because they have no other way of earning a living. PPTCT Prevention of Parent to Child Transmission of HIV. Also known as Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission (PMTCT). Many clinics run programmes for pregnant women who are HIV positive aimed at reducing the risk of mother to child infection during pregnancy and at childbirth, through the use of specific drugs. Puberty The time when girls start turning into women and boys into men. Various body and emotional changes occur, such as the start of a girl's monthly bleeding. Rape When a man over the age of 14 years has sex with a female without her consent. Safe sex Sex within a mutually faithful single-partner relationship where neither person is infected. Safer sex Taking measures to protect yourself from sexually transmitted diseases by avoiding direct contact with your partner's genitals, for example using a condom or practising mutual masturbation. Self-confidence Believing in your own worth, value and abilities. Semen The liquid containing a man's sperm, released from his penis when he has an orgasm. Sexual abuse When a man or a woman uses force to get sexual pleasure or unwanted sexual contact. Sexual assault Also called indecent assault. When a man or woman touches someone in a sexual way against their will. Sperm Tiny organisms in a man's semen that can fertilise a woman's egg. Statutory rape Sex with a girl or boy under the age of 16, with or without consent. STI Sexually Transmitted Infection - an infection that is passed to another person during sex, for example, HIV, syphilis and gonorrhea. Vagina The passage between a woman's outside private parts and her womb. The place where the penis goes during sex. VCT Voluntary Counselling and Testing is when someone decides to have an HIV test, even if he or she is not sick. Virgin A person who has never had sex. Wet dream When semen comes out of a man's penis while he is asleep. It often happens to boys and is a sign that they have reached puberty and are now sexually mature. Womb Also called the uterus. A small bag-like part inside a woman's body where a baby grows before it is born. 2006-08-07T15:10:00+00:00 https://auntie.local.versantus.co.uk/site/using_special/ https://auntie.local.versantus.co.uk/site/using_special/#When:14:52:00Z Special themes It’s helpful to use ‘Auntie Stella’ as part of a wider programme on life skills and young people’s reproductive health, and to use it along with other resources to add information and variety. One way to do this is to choose one of the ten suggested themes, and the cards that go with each one. There are a number of different ways of using the cards thematically. One method is to break into pairs or small groups and divide the letters up between you – then at the end you can report back to the others on what you did. When you get together, remember to explore some or all of these questions: What are the most important things we’ve learnt from going through the letter/s and Auntie Stella’s reply? What do we want to do as a result of working on this theme – as individuals, in our families, relationships, with friends and in society? What help or skills do we need? What people and organisations do we know who deal with these issues? What are they doing? How can we contact and work with them? Are there any Talking or Action Point activities we still want to do? End by looking at the questions you wrote at the beginning to see which ones you can now answer, and what additional information or help you still need. 2006-08-07T14:52:00+00:00 https://auntie.local.versantus.co.uk/site/using_writing/ https://auntie.local.versantus.co.uk/site/using_writing/#When:14:44:00Z Writing your own letters This allows you to raise and discuss your own problems confidentially, as nobody writes their names on their letters. Working individually, write a letter to Auntie Stella about your own, or a friend’s or a relative’s problem or worry – about growing up, sex or relationships. When you’ve finished writing, fold your letters and put them in a bag. Working in groups of three to six, take turns to take out a letter and read it aloud. The group then discusses what to reply. 2006-08-07T14:44:00+00:00 https://auntie.local.versantus.co.uk/site/using_pair/ https://auntie.local.versantus.co.uk/site/using_pair/#When:14:41:01Z Pair reply This is a good way to build self-confidence and increase decision-making skills. Work in pairs or threes. In your pair read a question card and its Talking Points and then write your reply together. Then join up with one or two other pairs and take turns to read the questions and the replies. Discuss each one, then check Auntie Stella’s reply and do the Action Points. 2006-08-07T14:41:01+00:00 https://auntie.local.versantus.co.uk/site/using_review/ https://auntie.local.versantus.co.uk/site/using_review/#When:13:59:01Z If you’ve been working on ‘Auntie Stella’ for a while, it’s useful to think about what you’ve learnt so far and how it’s affecting your lives. Discuss the questions below. Questions What do you enjoy most and least about using ‘Auntie Stella’? What are the most important things you’ve learnt from the letters and replies you’ve looked at? Are there any changes in your life – your feelings, attitudes or behaviour – as a result of doing the programme? If yes, what are they? Has anything changed in your family, relationships or society because of ‘Auntie Stella’? If so, what? How have you worked as a group, or with organisations, to change your lives and environment? And tell us too! 2006-08-07T13:59:01+00:00