Bi-lingual pamphlet encourages youth to wait

11 December 2006

New bi-lingual pamphlet launched in the Bay of Plenty encourages youth to wait before having sex.

Bay of Plenty high schoolers are being encouraged to ‘Take Ten’ before deciding to become sexually active. Family Education Network has developed “Te Ai (Sex) - Nga Take Tekau Hei Tatari (Ten Reasons To Wait)” - a bi-lingual pamphlet being provided free to Year 9 students.

Family Education network is a voluntary, charitable organisation promoting positive options to young people. It provides educational programmes in schools and a variety of printed materials as useful tools when dealing with peer pressure, relationships, commitment and sex.

“Take Ten is about taking time out for yourself to stop and think. This resource highlights the ten best reasons to wait before considering sex, and is one of our most popular pamphlets,” says Health Promoter Rineke Brosnahan.

“The Bay of Plenty region has one of the highest rates of Chlamydia infection and unplanned pregnancies in young people,” she says. “There is a lot of pressure on them to have sex. Family Education Network is working to reverse this trend by supplying youth with positive information and also programmes which equip them with skills to resist this pressure.”

Exercising a translation isn’t an easy task where the Maori language differs in each region, says Rineke Brosnahan.

“Schools, Maori and youth have been consulted in the revision process checking for translation, layout, content, philosophy and picture. The final product has a ‘seal of approval’ from the Maori Language Commission.”

Distribution of the four thousand copies of the pamphlet began last week. These have been produced with assistance from BayTrust and Opportunity Knocks.

“We would like to thank all those who have supported us in completing this project,” says Rineke Brosnahan.

ENDS

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