By SEAN DOUGLAS Thursday, November 1 2012

YOUNGSTERS at the St Michael’s Home for Boys in Diego Martin have now been empowered to understand AIDS/HIV and sexuality issues due to a sex education pilot project that could serve as a model for others, stakeholders heard at a meeting at the Hyatt Regency, Port-of-Spain, yesterday. An update on the “Safe FX” project was hosted by the YMCA and Community Action Resource (CARE), and was attended by officials of St Michael’s, the Ministry of Gender, Youth and Child Development, United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), and the Caribbean Vulnerable Communities Coalition (CVC)/El Centro de Orientación e Investigación Integral (COIN).

Ann-Marie Thomas of St Michael’s was glad that the home’s 65 youngsters, aged ten to 18 years old, were getting information about sex. “Some boys have very little knowledge about sex,” she said. “This project has aided St Michael’s tremendously.”

Thomas lamented that some youngsters had found themselves at the home because they had no one able to care for them after having lost their parents to AIDS/HIV. While some boys might behave badly towards society, they were not necessarily, inherently “bad”, but were reacting to their sad circumstances, she said. CARE’s David Soomarie said youngsters have the right to knowledge so as to make life-affirming decisions, and to overcome silence, secrecy and shame. He said the Safe FX project gives the youngsters accurate information and the tools to cope.