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Ashgabat, 6 June 2013 – Adults, including professionals working in the international development, might find challenging to initiate an open and trustful dialogue with children about sensitive issues like sex and drugs. It is not because they lack understanding about those issues, it is mainly has to do with how these issues are communicated to children, especially in their early teens.

The UN cares team jointly with the UNICEF Staff Association has laid grounds to initiate an essential conversation with their own children. A specially organized session about HIV and preventive behaviours has engaged children through participatory learning process. To set the scene, children were asked to explain various risks that can threaten people’s lives, well-being and health, as well as talk about conceptions and misconceptions associated with these risks. This exercise enabled children to think critically about risky issues, analyzing facts and making assessment of the risks.

As said 12 year old Dovlet, "Today I realized that I knew very little about HIV. I had fun and also was able to learn a lot. I think I will share this learning experience with my younger sister."

During another interactive session, children practiced how to develop self-confidence while communicating with their peers, which can help them to uphold their decisions in real life situations. Children also learnt how to effectively share the information with their friends and families.

Bahtygul Karriyeva, as a representative of the UN Cares Team thanked children for their participation in the learning session on behalf of the UN RC and emphasized, "Knowledge is the power, while sharing the obtained knowledge with others multiplies its effect." Children were awarded certificates, while parents were encouraged to further motivate their children to keep acquiring new life skills.