In 2016, we were given a brief by the Department Of Health to determine the Philippine representative for the Young Spikes Competition.
The problem was something familiar to everyone— the lack of sexual education in the Philippines
This is especially true for underprivileged Filipinos who often drop out before the 2nd grade, or never went to school at all. This means they are unable to develop the skills to read and write, much less comprehend sex ed. So how do we educate ALL Filipinos on how to prevent HIV/AIDS when the most vulnerable to the disease can’t even read?
The Idea
My partner and I started by simplifying sex education so it can be understood by every Filipino. Then we put it in a format that everyone can learn from: IMAGES.
We created a safe sex module that had no words. Sex education is simplified into illustrations that’ll make HIV/AIDS prevention easier to digest for all Filipinos. Lessons include: Safe Sex 101, How to Put on a Condom, Getting Tested, Symptoms of HIV, HIV/AIDS Prevention, Dangers of HIV/AIDS, etc.
Visual Aids in Condoms
Collaborating with popular brand condoms, the campaign will include a Visual AIDS lesson on How To Use a Condom to Prevent HIV/AIDS.
The lessons will include teaching Filipinos to ask for a condom before engaging in sex with a partner, as well as how to properly put on a condom. All without use of words.
The DOH will also create its own unbranded line of condoms that we will give it out for free in communities as part of our education drive.
Visual Aids Classes
The campaign will then compile all the visual materials into one text book that even the illiterate can read. We target the people who need it the most at the grassroots level and distribute the booklets in barangays.
It will be tapping politicians, government officials and TV personalities to get more people to attend Visual AIDS sex education classes.
Beyond HIV/AIDS
We can start using this format of visual communication to educate about safe sex and HIV prevention. In the long run, we can continue using this for DOH’s other advocacies.
Recognition
This idea won my partner and I the local Young Spikes Competition. We then went on to represent the Philippines in Singapore in 2016.