English translation
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Week6
Week6 is the sixth week of each year. In that week, primary school and youth center staff are encouraged to prioritize sexual health and offer diverse sex education. Preschools, after-school programs, and other municipalities are warmly invited to participate in Week6 as appropriate and suitable for each.
The Reykjavík Gender Equality Academy leads Week6, with the city's adolescents voting for the theme each year. Work is based on the concept of comprehensive sex education
Sex education for all levels of primary school - Toolboxes
- Sex education – youngest level Ideas for teaching materials, icebreakers, and instructional guides along with other informative content.
- Sex education – middle level Ideas for teaching materials, icebreakers, and instructional guides along with other informative content.
- Sex education – adolescent level Ideas for teaching materials, icebreakers, and instructional guides along with other informative content.
- Sex education – materials for staff Ideas for teaching materials, icebreakers, and instructional guides along with other informative content.
What is comprehensive sex education?
Comprehensive sex education focuses on sexual health. By providing comprehensive sex education to children and youth, we help them understand themselves and take responsibility for their own sexual health and well-being. We also give them the opportunity to have safe and fulfilling sexual relationships while considering the well-being of others.
Week6 - 2024
Week6 takes place from February 5-9, 2024. This time, the theme is communication and relationships. The theme can be explored in a variety of ways, based on the age and development of each child group. Here you can find some tools tailored to the theme of the year.
How Week6 works
Every year, adolescents choose the theme for Week6. It is done either through a democratic meeting or an online vote. Once the theme is chosen, preparations for the week begin. It is expected that each workplace will prepare for the week in a way that best suits their location.
The contributions of the Gender Equality Academy (in collaboration with others) to Week6 include:
- Encouraging management and staff to actively participate in Week6
- Providing various educational materials and teaching ideas related to the theme for staff to use during Week6 if they so choose.
- Producing educational posters and distributing them to all City primary schools and youth centers.
- Creating short educational videos in collaboration with UngRÚV.
- Sending condoms to all students in 10th grade.
- Designing short-sleeved educational T-shirts for youth center staff.
- Organizing events such as open education through Teams for children and adolescents during Week6 and open education for staff and parents before Week6 starts
Educational videos
On the occasion of Week6, the Gender Equality Academy has produced educational video segments in collaboration with UngRÚV and Mixtúra that discuss sex and gender awareness of young people from different perspectives. The videos are published on the UngRÚV website and here on the Gender Equality Academy's site.
Week6 posters - Intended for adolescents
The poster is designed by Reykjavík's Gender Equality Academy. The illustrator is Bergrún Íris Sævarsdóttir.
The poster is designed by Reykjavík's Gender Equality Academy. The illustrator is Bergrún Íris Sævarsdóttir.
The poster is designed by Reykjavík's Gender Equality Academy, the illustrator is Bergrún Íris Sævarsdóttir.
The poster is designed by Reykjavík's Gender Equality Academy. The illustrator is Bergrún Íris Sævarsdóttir.
The poster is designed by Reykjavík's Gender Equality Academy. The illustrator is Bergrún Íris Sævarsdóttir.
Good to know
According to educational law, all children shall receive sex education at every education level. By providing comprehensive sex education, we:
- Train children and adolescents to recognize and respect their own boundaries and those of others. Ensure they understand that each individual is unique and people have different boundaries.
- Enhance the knowledge of children and adolescents regarding sex, gender identity, and sexual orientation, body, emotions, rights, communication, and sexual health.
- Boost the self-esteem of children and adolescents and train them in critical thinking. Empower them to make decisions that bring well-being to themselves and others and not harm.
- Make children and adolescents aware of their sexual health and encourage them to make choices based on their own terms while respecting all involved.
Before starting sex education, it can be good to keep the following in mind
- Start by creating a safe atmosphere and environment.
- Emphasize respect within the group.
Remember diversity, such as gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, culture, and more
- Aim to speak as gender-neutral and openly as possible. Using words like some, most, many, for example talking about those with penises and those who menstruate is beneficial.
- Do not be exclusionary or make assumptions about students' interests or experiences.
Have age-appropriate educational materials
- Prepare specially for those who may find the topic challenging, as the discussion may be difficult for some and not all education is suitable for everyone in the same way.
How best to approach sensitive discussions
Start with some self-reflection
- Remember that you are in an educational role, be neutral in your teaching and focus on the welfare of the students.
- If you do not feel confident in a particular discussion, don't engage in it; have someone else do it or prepare very well and have the discussion when you feel you can do it well.
Choose our words carefully.
- Speak respectfully to students and consider that there are various individuals within the group.
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Set our own boundaries and respect others' in discussion..
- Be unafraid to set boundaries for yourself and ensure you don't cross students' boundaries, for instance by speaking too crudely or describing your own sexual experiences from younger years. DO NOT talk about your own experiences in sex education; it can be really uncomfortable for some students and alter their perception of you. You can cite your own experience but frame it differently, for example: A friend of mine sometimes experienced that... or: I know a girl who...
- Be sincere.
- Remember that we are not the ultimate destination for information.
Week6 is on Instagram
On Instagram, there's a page for the oldest grades of primary school called #vika6_island. There you'll find various knowledge about sexual health and you can follow in 'stories' what the city's youth centers and primary schools are doing throughout the week.
