Christian Youth Abstinence Programme Launches in Norwich
Christian youth workers in Norwich have launched an initiative with a group of teenagers in try to make a dent in the rising number of teenage pregnancies.
by Gretta Curtis
Posted: Thursday, March 22, 2007, 8:46 (GMT)
Christian youth workers in Norwich have launched an initiative with a group of teenagers to try to make a dent in the rising number of teenage pregnancies.
Romance Academy, which was opened Tuesday, takes a dozen 14 to 16-year-olds and challenges them to go without sex throughout the 15-week course.
The six boys and six girls will instead meet each week to focus on topics such as building and sustaining healthy relationships, contraception, sexually transmitted infections, drugs and alcohol, and self-image.
The course, organised by Pregnancy Crisis Norfolk (PCN), is inspired by the popular BBC2 series No Sex Please We're Teenagers.
It is being run by Christian youth workers Sarah Woodger and David Lanchester.
Mr Lanchester said: “We want to help educate people about relationships and sex issues. There's a lot of media pressure on teenagers to have sex and it's easy to lose the whole relationship side of things.”
The young people, who attended an open evening Tuesday at the Fishergate Centre in Norwich, will meet every once a week throughout the course. They will also have social events and a residential weekend away.
PCN director Biddy Collyer said: “Anyone who saw the BBC2 programme last year must have been inspired by the enthusiasm and compassion of the two Christian youth workers who pioneered the Romance Academy.
“We believe it is an exciting opportunity positively to influence the lives of young people by challenging them to question the messages that society throws at them and helping them realise their value and worth.”
PCN is working with YMCA Norfolk, the Matthew Project, Norwich Youth for Christ and church youth groups to find young people who want to get involved.
Course organiser Melissa Snell, from PCN, said: “Research has shown that, with good self-esteem, a young person is more likely to delay having sex and less likely to engage in risk-taking behaviour when they do become sexually active - thus reducing the risk of unplanned teenage pregnancy and STIs and their associated cost.”
She added that there would be a graduation ceremony at the end of the course, to which the young people could invite family and friends.
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Added: Friday, November 23, 2007, 10:08 (GMT)
yeah i mean its a great thing and i have been going to this group for 1 year and 2 months. i have became a cristian in that time i have changed so mutch in this time.
nikki, norwich
Added: Friday, August 17, 2007, 15:54 (BST)
To whom it may concern
Initially, coming across this article i was pleased to see that finally, some sort of authority was doing something to try and instill some sense of morality into children because lets face it, 14 to 16 year ols are just that in the eyes of the law.
However on reading the article, i was disappointed to find that yet again there appears to be no hope for the disgustingly low set of standards set in our society today. Surely if you wish to reduce the number of STD's, Teenage pregnancies and abortions which lead to further dire consequences including lack of education, unemployment and depression then you should be, as a christian organisation teaching them what is correct in the eyes of God and Christianity. I cannot remember the last time God in any faith, shape or form justified sex with the use of a condom. Surely if you wish to educate CHILDREN, action and education should be aimed to prevent these deeds being commited in the first place.
I am writing to you as a christian teenager of 18 years, i am unterly disgusted by the fact that this programme is a "challenge"! it should be a way of life, and the reality is thast it isnt but it you wish to do something about it, and call youserlves christian then i beleive it should be done properly, with no exceptions and standards dropped just because society has been corrupted.
I am glad that there are people like yourselevs that are atleast attempting to make a difference and educate teenagers but i beleive that as christians we should take action as God would wish and yes ofcourse education is absolutely necessary because the lack of it has a major input in the rising numbers of pregnancies but morality and WHY these actions shouldnt be committed is more important than attempting to make children concentrate on relationships. They shouldnt be having "relationships" at such a young age, they are sexual, and if not then they are called friendships not relationships. I urge you to please reassess your action and if not then thankyou for giving me the opportunity to voice my oppinion.
Regards
Halah
Halah, London
