Group Education Manual - Peace Corps Wiki

make their own decisions about sex and decide if and when they want tobecome sexually active with their partner. Under no circumstances shouldthese rights be denied to an individual or should these decisions about sex bemade by others. It is important to note that discussing sex is important but itis also important to discuss condom use as well, especially as a form of birthcontrol in an intimate relationship and as a form of STI and HIV prevention.TrainingoptionsOptional Step: The facilitator might want to develop “Problem” and “Solution” treesto help participants understand the causes and results of both good and badcommunication about sexuality issues. Divide the participants into two groups. Eachgroup will be given an assignment to draw a tree. Group One will draw a “ProblemTree” and Group Two will draw a “Solution Tree.” Provide the following instructionsfor the groups:Group One: The “Problem Tree” group will be asked to draw a tree trunk in thecenter of a flipchart. Ask the group to brainstorm some of the causes of poorcommunication about sexuality. Each of the causes should be depicted as a root ofthe tree. After noting each cause, the group should consider what else can contributeto that cause. For example, if one reason is “embarrassment,” what causesembarrassment? One of the causes could be “social norms.” This would then bedepicted as a subroot of the original cause. The problem tree will also look at theoutcomes of poor communication. Those outcomes will be depicted as the branchesof the tree. As they did with the causes, the groups should brainstorm and identifythe primary and the secondary outcomes of poor communication.Group Two: The same process will be used for the “Solution Tree.” GroupTwo will be asked to draw a tree trunk in the center of aflipchart. Ask thegroup to brainstorm some of the causes of healthy communication aboutsexuality. Each of the causes should be depicted as a root of the tree. Afternoting each cause, the group should consider what else can contribute to thatcause. For example, if one reason is “sense of vulnerability,” what causesthat? Other causes might include “education” or “previous STIs.” Thesewould then be depicted as subroots of the original cause. The solution treewill also look at outcomes of healthy communication. These outcomes willbe depicted as the branches of the tree. As they did with the causes, thegroups should brainstorm and identify the primary and the secondary resultsof healthy communication.LinksThe discussion of negotiation in sexual relationships can be linked to the activity“Persons and Things” and to the unequal power relationships that often exist inmale/female relationships. It can also be linked to the activity “Talking About UsingCondoms,” which presents negotiations of condom use in a different format.31