Focus on the Family - Southern Africa

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No Apologies

The No Apologies programme approaches sexuality by seeking an understanding of the five developmental areas of the human person: intellectual, emotional, social, physical and ethical - all involved during the sexual decision-making process.

View Report on the Presentation of No Apologies >>

Click here to contact the No Apologies team

The building and strengthening of character is crucial to development. Good judgement, courage and self-control are some of the qualities promoted throughout the No Apologies programme. Abstinence is 100% effective in building a young person's self esteem, responsibility, leadership qualities and relationship abilities.

The programme encourages the development of sound life skills and makes no apologies about promoting sexual abstinence before marriage, thereby positively influencing the AIDS crisis we face. It is imperative that we ensure that those not infected with AIDS are informed and know how to avoid becoming one of the statistics. Abstinence is 100% effective against the spread of HIV/AIDS and other STDs.

Among the many issues teenagers face, making wise choices about sexuality is one of the most critical. The culture we live in is teeming with sexual images, inappropriate messages and dangerous advice about sexuality. A complete section of No Apologies is dedicated to guiding them into appreciating the sublime attack of the media on our minds, and trains them how to be "vigilant."

Delaying sexual involvement until marriage is a critically important and achievable standard for young people.

In a world of peer pressure and relativism, young people struggle to know what is real or realistic. Acclaimed in many countries throughout the world as a thorough life skilling manual, the No Apologies programme has achieved phenomenal results.

FOCUS ON THE FAMILY SOUTHERN AFRICA

The curriculum has been used in seven Sub-Saharan African countries and requests for this powerful life-changing programme are growing every day. The programme has been translated in South Africa into Zulu and is currently being translated into Xhosa and Afrikaans.

The South African government has endorsed the programme through the Department of Arts, Culture, Science and Technology, and has piloted several projects in KZN schools. From 2001 - 2004, projects have been run by Focus on the Family in eight of the nine provinces. The programme has also been launched in other sectors of the community, such as Independent and Government schools, youth groups and churches.

Parents and educators play an important role in transmitting to teenagers values regarding sex and relationships.

If adults - parents, teachers and others who interact with young people every day - are willing to set the standard, the next generation can and will meet the challenge.

NO APOLOGIES TRAINING 2001 - 2005
	2001	2002	2003	2004	2005	Total
Educators Trained	10	1452	1273	2080	2913	6818
Learners Trained	50	18858	73913	103531	175010	371862
Pledges Signed	495	14144	55435	77648	131258	278979

Abstaining from all high risk behaviours - including sexual activity - protects teenagers futures, and allows them to pursue friendships, goals, dreams and optimal health.

A BREAKDOWN OF THE PROGRAMME:
Unit 1: 30-minute video
	Personal teen testimonies
	Introduction to all the issues facing teenagers today
	Review and discussion questions

Unit 2: We All Want Healthy Relationships
	Goal setting and overcoming challenges
	Understanding and developing character
	Understanding the different parts of a human person - physical, social, ethical, emotional and intellectual.
	Understanding of the difference between love, lust and infatuation.

Unit 3: Media Literacy
	The education of understanding the media
	The importance of developing a 'filter'
	Evaluating how our behaviour and attitudes are influenced
	A critical thinking approach to the issue of music lyrics, advertising and other popular media outlets

Unit 4: Pre-marital Sex Has Consequences
	Understanding how the five developmental areas of the human person are impacted during the sexual decision-making process.
	The progression of sexual intimacy
	Sexually transmitted diseases and other consequences of premarital sexual behaviour

Unit 5: Abstinence. It works Every Time
	Responding to negative peer pressure, both in a one-on-one situation and a group situation.
	'Dating' safely and creatively.
	Drugs and alcohol as it relates to goals and dreams and a commitment to abstinence.
	Hope for beginning again should a teenager have been involved sexually in the past - whether by choice or not

Unit 6: Marriage Does Matter
	The value of marriage
	The skills necessary for becoming a good marriage partner.
	How to choose a marriage partner wisely
	Click here to contact the No Apologies team
Each unit is filled with interactive activities. There are also wonderful parent/teen discussions after each unit in order to encourage open lines of communication between teenagers and their parents.