Experience has shown that education that has a positive impact on attitudes and behaviour has a number of characteristics. Education is effective when it is a two-way learning process between equals that starts from what participants already know and feel. People should be respected and valued in all their diversity, whatever their age,  gender, sexual orientation, HIV status, disability or other aspect of their identity.

People actively learn through participatory problem-solving activities related to their own lives. They experience a new way of doing things or how it feels to be in someone else’s shoes and this changes them. People develop positive values and behavior through exploring options, understanding the different influences on their lives and coming to their own views and decisions, rather than being told what to do. In order to adopt healthy sexual behavior, young people need to have accurate information (key facts), opportunities to reflect on what this means for themselves, their lives and those around them (values and attitudes), and to feel good enough about themselves to think that they are worth looking after (self-esteem). Then they need the skills to act on their new understanding.

Adolescents and young people are more likely to adopt healthy behaviors if they see that this will have a positive effect on their lives than if they are asked to give up something to avoid a bad consequence. Effective education is based on the reality of adolescents’ and young people’s lives, their opportunities and difficulties and the choices open to them. Available in French, Portuguese, and Swahili from Frontline AIDS.