To stimulate discussion about sexual reproductive health and rights (SRHR) is the most important goal of YOLO
Background
The YOLO game is an initiative of Marleen Engbersen Project Management. In 2002 Marleen founded the WEB.foundation together with Karin van Paassen to inform adolescents about HIV/ Aids before they would become sexually active. In close cooperation with NGO’s such as PLAN, UNICEF, ICCO, Dutch HIV association, PATH Thailand, CORDAID, Dutch AIDS foundation they developed tools for communication in different countries: LOVE.check, FAMILY.matter, STOP.ebola and the animations The Story of Bobo. All the games are based on the principle of ‘Memory-game’ and are developed together with local experts in health care.
Each game consists of cards which shows daily life situations and involve topics such as: relationships, sexuality, Hiv/AIDS to encourage people to talk about these delicate issues. All the games were evaluated by cultural anthropologists. The outcome was that children have more information after playing the games and also discuss about all kind of important topics in their daily life situations depicted in the cards. Rural children and street children with negative sexual experiences were able to talk about sexuality for the first time.
The foundation also realized 15 trainings films to guide adults to address adolescent sexuality issues. The 15 short films can be of great assistance when you want to play YOLO. http://movies.yologame.nl
In 2018 the WEB.foundation stopped her activities and Marleen decided to continue to develop games and to produce the sex education tool YOLO as social entrepreneur. With her experience of more than 15 years in creating edutainment games she thinks the time is right to produce a communication tool about Sexual Reproductive Rights (SRHR). Since the MeToo#campaign more and more people become aware about the necessity – to learn to talk – more openly about SRHR. It is of great importance that they discuss SRHR issues and feel comfortable discussing SRH issues with peers. That they feel empowered to realize and maintain healthy sexual and reproductive lives by taking informed decisions and actions. On the internet young people have access to a lot of information but YOLO provides interactive and educative and a friendly exchange of SRHR issues information.
With YOLO questions like ‘how to live together’ and ‘how could I tell I’m not in the mood’ can be discussed more easily. It is a tool to support adolescents who can be vulnerable among their peers to become strong and to learn to make choices;
To empower young people, to contribute to prevention and to minimize injured souls.
YOLO in this version, is a first prototype and printed in a limited edition.
The prototype could be created and tested with the financial support of the Prins Bernhard Cultuur Fonds
(Banning de Jong Fonds), the Rotarian Action Group Healthy Pregnancies/Healthy Children (RAG HP/HC), private gifts, University of Amsterdam, Marleen Engbersen Project Management and WEB.foundation
WEB.foundation
www.webfoundation.nl
The rotary action group healthy pregnancies / healthychildren (RAG HP/HC) s focused on prevention during the period before pregnancy and provides information, expertise and encouragement to stimulate good conditions for mother and child. Focus areas of the Rotary Foundation coincide with important factors in preconception care: peace, healthcare for mother and child, disease prevention, water and sanitation, education and economic development.
www.rotary
Special thanks to advisory team:
Maaike Batist, Christien Broecheler, Jan Lucas Ket, Gemma Pagano, Michiel van Dam, Wanda de Wit
Concept: © Marleen Engbersen 2018
Printing: Koopmans Drukkerij, Hoorn (NL)
Graphic design: Danielle Mercx Schaffelaars (www.ilpanda.nl)
Illustrations: Martina Vanda (www.martinavanda.com)
UNESCO
ational Technical Guidance on Sexuality Education,
An evidence-informed approach for schools, teachers and health educators; UNESCO 2009: http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0018/001832/183281e.pdf
COMPREHENSIVE SEXUALITY EDUCATION, A GLOBAL REVIEW; UNESCO 2015: http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0023/002357/235707e.pdf