Passion for Inclusion (P4I)

introduction

Disabled people are among the most disadvantaged groups, facing numerous challenges in social, professional and educational life. They often face discrimination, limited access and a lack of support. They are particularly affected in areas that are often overlooked - such as sex education.

The Need for Sexual Education for People with Disabilities

Sexual education is one of the most important, yet most neglected, needs of people with disabilities. While healthy people often acquire knowledge about sexuality in an informal way, people with disabilities are more affected by prejudices, taboos and cultural norms. This means that the topic of sexuality is difficult for them to access and is often associated with shame and insecurity.

To enable full social integration, people with disabilities must have the opportunity to understand their sexuality, protect themselves from sexual violence and health risks, and develop their sexual identity. This requires sexuality education that is specifically tailored to their individual needs and learning abilities.

The role of educational providers and shared responsibility

The responsibility for sex education cannot rest solely with parents or schools. Rather, educators, teachers, counselors and families must work together and see their roles as complementary. A joint approach based on trust and cooperation is crucial. Parents, schools and social workers should support each other and offer alternatives, rather than shifting responsibility exclusively to one group.

Why is sex education important? Statistical data

According to the UNFPA World Population Report 2014, approximately 91,000 underage girls are pregnant each year and 1 in 3 marriages involve girls under 18. Particularly alarming: 68% of girls with developmental or intellectual disabilities are at increased risk of sexual violence before the age of 18. Children with disabilities are 3.4 times more likely to be victims of sexual abuse than their non-disabled peers.

These figures highlight the urgent need for targeted sexuality education that protects people with disabilities and helps them recognise their rights and needs.

Project P4I: A Model for Sexuality Education

The project P4I (Project for Inclusion) develops an innovative model for sexuality education specifically tailored to people with intellectual disabilities. It takes into account individual learning needs and uses modern pedagogical approaches to ensure effective and inclusive sexuality education.

• Development of a comprehensive curriculum tailored to the needs of people with intellectual disabilities.

• Training teachers, counselors and family members to ensure consistent and coordinated delivery of content.
• Use of audiovisual materials and interactive exercises to create a positive and lasting learning experience.




target group and challenges

The project partners work with adults aged 30 to 80 years, including people with disabilities, migrants and women struggling with social and economic problems. Many of the participants live in remote, rural areas and are often dependent on social assistance. In addition, some suffer from physical or sensory disabilities and chronic health problems, which further complicates access to educational resources.




Project Contributions and Benefits

The project offers significant benefits on several levels:

• Personal development: The educational measures promote personal development and strengthen active participation in social life.
• Access to education:
• The project provides information about local, national and international training opportunities and opens up new opportunities.
• Cultural exchange:
• Intercultural dialogue promotes understanding and tolerance, which contributes to harmonious coexistence.
• Social Integration:
• Sport is used as an integrative tool to break down barriers and strengthen social cohesion.
• Strengthening co-determination:
• Adults are encouraged to participate in decision-making processes relevant to youth.
• Reducing violence:
• Education and empowerment contribute to reducing violence and discrimination against women, migrants and people with disabilities.




Expected impacts of the project

The expected positive effects of the project include:

• Improved access to quality education for disadvantaged adults.
• creating new non-formal learning opportunities
• that are tailored to the needs of the participants.
• Stronger link between formal and non-formal education
• to facilitate the transition into the labour market.
• promoting social cohesion
• through the integration of disadvantaged groups.
• reducing violence and discrimination
• , particularly towards women, migrants and people with disabilities.




Conclusion

The project P4I represents an innovative and sustainable approach to improving the sex education and social integration of people with disabilities. Through targeted educational measures, interactive learning content and close cooperation between all those involved, the project makes a significant contribution to improving the quality of life of the participants, strengthening their rights and promoting their active participation in social life.