Sex Ed, Best Said Project

IEC Materials Development Campaign

The (Jamaica Youth Advocacy Network) is a

youth-led and youth-serving organization that
JYAN has some very good things going on for it. In
addition to the fact that we are a major player in anything
youth related on the national level, our projects are funded by/in partnership
with a Government Ministry (Health and Environment), International NGO
(Advocates for Youth) and an International Development Partner (UNICEF).

Intro and Background

Sex Ed, Best Said, (Sex Ed for short), is funded through the MOH's National
HIV/STI Programme (NHP) grant from the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis
and Malaria. The name of the project that Global Fund funds in the NHP that
we have received $5.7Mill JMD is "Consolidating existing gains while scaling up
to provide universal access to treatment, care and prevention services with
special emphasis on special Vulnerable Populations in Jamaica."
Basically, the special vulnerable population that we address is adolescents
(adolescents 10-19) with a specific emphasis on in-school youth under age 16.

By providing comprehensive sexuality education that is based on international

and national guidelines, created by youth with experience in adolescent
sexual and reproductive health (SRH) work and is reflective of the experience
of the Jamaican youth growing up in 20010, our intervention hopes to affect
and impact those who we interact with over the 20+ contact weeks of our
intervention.

If it’s not rooted in evidence, 'it nah seh nut’n!' Naturally Sex Ed, has expected
outcomes guided by what research suggests are some of the biggest problems
in youth sexual and reproductive health. We have also gained input from a
sample of students, and have used this to decide what the material being
designed will be about.

As a part of the holistic approach to

reducing the vulnerability of youth, the
DEVELOPMENT TEAM
IEC (INFORMATION,

COMMUNICATION)

project will be developing 3 unique IEC

EDUCATION AND

materials in the form of a

MATERIAL

booklet/pamphlet and 2 posters. We are

looking for three young people, ages 16-
20 years to make up this team, one
serving as a writer, another as the
artiste/animator and the third as the
graphic designer/layout person.
Rationale

Young people are bombarded with various images and messages that both promote and
endanger responsible sexual decisions. HIV appears to be increasing among our young people
at a higher rate than in the general population. In addition, adult HIV prevalence in Jamaica is
around 1.8% (2008, MOH). If this level of prevalence is sustained, there is a 4.5% to 7.5% chance
that the average 15-year-old Jamaican adolescent will die from AIDS before he/she turns 50.
The Sex Ed, Best Said Project’s recent survey of over 700 high school students indicates that
45.25% of young people ages 12-16 do not consider having sexual intercourse with a boy/girl
after pressuring him/her to get high or drunk as rape, a statistic that indicates a need to
address the relationship between drugs/substances and sexual activity.

The reproductive health of adolescents and youth, and the prevention of sexually transmitted
infections including HIV and AIDS are priorities in Jamaica. The JYAN has been doing its part in
reducing the risk of infection and the building of skills of youth, better allowing them to practice
healthy sexual behaviour.

IEC Materials are often an integral part of the behaviour change communication process. As
such the Sex Ed Project wishes to take an innovative approach to the creation of these
materials by involving young people in the entire process, with the aim that these materials will
add to the pool of youth-specific resources that address young people’s sexual decision-
making and specifically hoe drug and substance use affects this.

Goals and M ain Focus of Campaign

• To persuade the target audience, adolescents ages 10-19 to avoid use/abuse

of common drugs and substances, as they negatively affect reproductive
health and sexual behaviour.
• To address the factors that contribute to unplanned sexual encounters that
result from the use of drugs, and highlight several remedial implications on
reproductive health.
• To promote the health benefits of abstaining from drugs and harmful
substances while young and even later in life.
M ain Duties & Responsibilities – Scope of W ork - All Team M embers

1. Contribute to the implementation of a work plan for the development of

IEC material to persuade adolescents to avoid use/abuse of common
drugs and substances, as they negatively affect reproductive health and
sexual behaviour. This work plan should complement the provided outline
of the relevant timelines and deliverables.
2. Liaise with the Project Manager throughout the material development
process.

Deliverables

3. Conceptualize and develop 1(10 page) booklet.

4. Conceptualize and design 2 17” x 21” Poster. These posters should be full
colour and low literacy.
5. Conduct focus group in a youth setting (10-12 young people) and
provide report on findings to inform creative brief development.
6. Attend all scheduled meetings, workshops and trainings.
7. Participate in the pre-test of draft material and be integral in its revision.
a. Drafts of all materials must be submitted for approval to the Sex Ed
Team before production can commence.

Profile of Materials Development Team (MDT):

• Should be 16-20 years old

• Is a youth leader in some way (Church, School, Community etc.)
• Is a team player and gets along well with others. Has a real interest in
reaching other youth around issues such as sexual and reproductive
health, crime reduction, empowerment, etc.
• Is very good at using Microsoft Office and other publishing software
• Is tech-savvy; uses the internet often and know how to use it to engage
other youth
• Is up-to-the time regarding Jamaican popular culture
• Has frequent internet access (at least 4 times per week);
• Has skills and capacity that is relevant to the position you are applying for;
• Possesses the ability to schedule one’s time so that he/she can
comfortably and meaningfully contribute to the creative process
(approx. 3-5 hours per week)
• Is connected to the issues that affect youth in the Jamaican context
• Has motivation, pro-activeness, flexibility, reliability and a good sense of
humour!
• Is available for the Contract Period of for 2.5 – 3 months
Profile and specific responsibilities of the Materials Development Writer:

 Loves to write, is creative, and is willing to use skills to create materials with
positive messages
 Has been a member of a club or youth group that produces writing. For
example a member of debating team, drama club, 4-H, or any other where
opportunities to write pop up frequently
 Has written letters to the editor for a national/school paper, or composition,
short stories, poem, songs, social commentaries etc.

 The writer will be responsible for:

a. Working with the Project Manager to translate/modify messages into
age appropriate and ‘youth-oriented’ language (based on your
experience and what comes out of the focus groups).
b. Conducting a focus group in a youth setting (10 – 12 youth) and
provide report on findings to inform creative brief development.
a. Depending on type of booklet/pamphlet, is able to write for a low-
literacy audience and using dialogue.

Profile of the Material Development Graphic Designer:

 Loves to see how creative graphic design makes a big difference in the look
of a document and is willing to use skills to create materials that produce
these positive vibes.
 Has utilized skills in the creation of flyers, poster, banners, event invites,
newsletters, web pages, etc.
 Knows his/her way around graphic design software like Adobe
Photoshop/Illustrator, etc. very well.
 The Graphic Artist will be responsible for:
a. Designing the layout of the booklet/pamphlet and poster, taking the
text from the Writer and the animation form the Artist and infusing them
into a layout that ‘jumps off the page’ to the youth reader.
b. Conducting a focus group in a youth setting (10 – 12 youth) and
provide report on findings to inform creative brief development.
a. Adjusting design based on focus group input and relevant reviews.

Profile of the Material Development Animator:

 Loves to draw and sketch, especially characters, and is very good at it and is
willing to use skills to create positive materials
 Has utilized skills in the creation of flyers, poster, banners, event invites,
newsletters, web pages, etc.
 Knowledge of how to convert physically drawn images into digital art via
graphic design software like Adobe Photoshop/Illustrator is a plus.
 The Artist/Animator will be responsible for:
a. Creating illustrations and animating sequences to accompany/support
the messages contained in the booklet/pamphlet and poster.
b. Conducting a focus group in a youth setting (10 – 12 youth) and
provide report on findings to inform creative brief development.
a. Adjusting images based on focus group input and relevant reviews.
How to Apply
Once you have read and understood the nature of this initiative, please follow these
steps to ensure that your application is given the best shot at being selected:

1. Write a cover letter, state which position you are applying for and telling us
about yourself and what makes you suited to be a member of this MDT.
2. Submit an up to date resume detailing the skills that are appropriate for the
position you are applying for.
3. Ask a Guidance Counsellor, Community Leader, Teacher, Church Leader or
Mentor to provide a character reference for you. This must explain your
leadership ability, reliability and competence in the required area.

4. If you are applying to be the Writer of the team:

a. Please provide 2-4 non-academic writing samples. Choose from short
story, poems, debate speeches, skits/plays etc. We really want to get a
feel of your ability to write in a way that young Jamaican’s would find
engaging and relatable, so if you write in patois or write humour send
samples of these in. Dialogue writing is also a plus.

5. If you are applying to be the Animator/Artist of the team:

a. Please provide 2-4 samples of drawings you have done yourself – from
concept to finish! We are looking especially for someone who enjoys
drawing characters with appropriate backdrop, like a comic book
setting, so send in drawings of characters that are young, vibrant, edgy
while still being life-like and believable.

6. If you are applying to be the Graphic Designer of the team:

a. Please provide 2-4 samples of a graphic design / layout you have done
yourself – from concept to finish! We are looking for young, vibrant,
edgy designs so choose samples from posters, brochures, event invite,
banners, etc.

Please ensure that all samples that are submitted are original, as steps will be taken to
verify their authenticity!

While your motivation for applying should be a real interest in being a part of this
unique and meaningful process, for your work and dedication the members of the
MDT will be given competitive stipends.

Application Deadline: Friday April 23, 2010 @ 6:00pm!! To be sent to email address
below.

Project Manager
Sex Ed, Best Said
C/O Ministry of Health
Oceana Complex
Kingston

Email: robb.andre@gmail.com