acet UK 30th Anniversary Brochure

30yearsGIVINAGNTDHANKS

toyseeeeaawwarnortsldG W T ...selfw-ehseItVreeeIpNmeAGoanpNdleDrheHasvpAeecNhtefKaoltrSheyach

other, leading to positive relationships

30and good sexual health.
We want to see people flourish and reach their potential
because they understand how unique and precious they are.
We want a world where people can build, enjoy, and maintain
safe and fulfilling relationships. We want to see culture
transformed so that sex is valued and people are able to
have a better understanding of human sexuality – our desire
to connect deeply with others.
As an organisation that began as a Christian response to HIV
and AIDS, we also want to see a shift in culture so that those
living with HIV are integrated into every part of society –
every community, every church and every institution.

acet UK is a Christian charity with a mission to equip and inspire
individuals, schools, churches and organisations, in the UK and

internationally, to transform culture by promoting healthy self-esteem,
positive relationships and good sexual health.

2 acet UK • Celebrating 30 years

“As we reflect on 30 years of acet UK, we give thanks
and celebrate all that God has done! From a few willing
volunteers, to education in 15 nations, our intensive training
programmes have truly changed hearts and attitudes
towards HIV and the wider breadth of relational and sexual
health. None of this would have been possible without our
supporters. My heartfelt thanks for standing with us!

Partnership is one of our core values. It is understanding about relationships and
how we began, a key influence in our sex. Our Esteem project (page 22)
growth, and an important part of our o ers training to equip your work as
plans for the future. We know that there well as bespoke and teacher training
is a significant demand for quality for organisations and schools.
relationships and sex education,
particularly to keep pace with the If you are a parent, carer, school
challenges of our current culture. With so or church, we want to give you the
many negative messages and images knowledge to address young people’s
about bodies and sexual expectations, questions confidently. Our parents’
students constantly tell us how much they workshops and resources (page 25) are
appreciate our sessions informing them designed to foster positive relationships
in a fun, open, and non-judgemental way. between yourself and young people.

We want to share our expertise in Finally, if you are inspired, we invite you
relational and sexual health so that to give and help us continue this life
more young people experience transforming work. We want to saturate
emotional wellbeing and are young people with the message that they
supported to make wise and healthy
choices. ”are unique, valued, and loved – today,

If you have a heart for young people, we and in the next 30 years to come!
would love to partner with you in building
young people’s self-esteem and Sarah Smith
Chief Executive,
acet UK

acet UK • Celebrating 30 years 3

“acet UK began when Dr the need for continued education and a
compassionate response. It is our personal
Patrick Dixon visited the AIDS experiences, of seeing someone su ering,
ward of a London hospital in experiencing stigma, not having access
1987. The first thing he saw to e ective medication, that incites true
was a desperately sick young change.
man. Anxious, sweaty, and
fighting for every breath, he As we celebrate acet UK’s anniversary, we
was totally alone and about reflect on the privilege it is to be part of
to die. the Christian response to HIV. Over 300,000
copies of AIDS and You (Patrick’s second
Fear, judgement, and hostility surrounded book) have been distributed because
the HIV epidemic at that time. Not one of the people wanted to help, but did not know
100 cancer hospices in Britain would accept where to begin. acet UK shifted attitudes,
someone with AIDS, and HIV was incorrectly challenged cultural norms, and broke
thought to be a virus that was passed only through taboos to create a movement of
between men who had sex with men. Seeing people passionate about education.
this stigma and discrimination spurred Patrick
and his wife Sheila to action. Following God’s Today you will find ACET programmes in
prompting, Patrick wrote The Truth about sub-Saharan Africa, Eastern Europe, and
AIDS and on April 19th, 1988 acet UK was Central Asia. Although cultures may di er,
o cially born! each has the same desire to help others
see their value and to experience true love
Unfortunately, I know personally the and acceptance. We thank God for each and
devastation that HIV and AIDS can bring. every life that has been transformed and
Twenty years ago, before antiretroviral
medication, I lost a brother, sister, and other ”look ahead in eager anticipation of what the
family members to HIV/AIDS. Although I am
grateful for how far we have come, I also see future will bring!

Margaret Sentamu
Patron of acet UK

Patrick writes
The Truth
About AIDS

1987

4 acet UK • Celebrating 30 years

The Early Days... acet UK / The Early Days

Within a few weeks of becoming “When we started, acet UK’s home care
‘o cial’ in 1988, nurses, social workers,
and volunteers were providing teams looked after people who had acquired
24-hour home support across London HIV through same sex relationships or
and education in schools had spread through needle sharing as drug users. Many
throughout the UK! acet UK quickly were very surprised that Christian volunteers
became the largest London provider were so willing to help. Where perhaps they
of home based care for people living expected judgment, they received totally
with HIV as similar work developed unconditional love, expressed in practical
throughout the UK and the Republic compassion.
of Ireland.
By 1997-2001, treatments and community
At the same time, thanks to George Verwer
and Operation Mobilisation, Patrick’s provision had improved and we eventually
second book, AIDS and You was distributed
worldwide in over 25 di erent languages. handed over homecare to the government and
The call for a compassionate response to
HIV and AIDS drew the attention of others other agencies. Today, acet UK continues to
facing similar challenges. Independent
ACET teams were established in Northern raise awareness about HIV and challenge stigma
Ireland, Uganda, Thailand, Czech Republic,
and Romania. and discrimination through education, but the

Eventually, the NHS began caring for focus has widened. We support parents, schools
people with HIV, awareness about
transmission and prevention grew, and and churches to be fully
the first anti-retroviral medicines became
available. After 14 years of service, the committed and equipped
London Home Care programme ended
and acet UK’s school education was to deliver relationships
transferred to Oasis Trust.
and sex education. Our
The work in the UK re-structured but did
not end there! acet UK was then a channel hope is that children
for support to partners overseas and in
2006, formed a global partnership with and adults will flourish,
Tearfund. ACETs throughout Eastern Europe,
sub-Saharan Africa, and Central Asia were reach their potential,
launched to help stop further spread of
HIV and care for those a ected. and experience Patrick and

”healthy and fulfilling Sheila Dixon.
Founders of acet UK
relationships.
acet UK is born!

1988 5

acet UK • Celebrating 30 years

Today, acet UK seeks to equip and
inspire individuals, schools, churches, and
organisations, in the UK and internationally,
to transform culture by promoting healthy
self-esteem, positive relationships, and
good sexual health. We do this by:

Educating young people through Working with and training
our Esteem programme international partners who
share our vision and mission
Sharing our expertise on these and who are committed to
issues through delivering Esteem mobilising the church to promote
training and providing resources healthy relationships, improve
sexual health and respond to
to those who work with young
people and communities, including the HIV pandemic

youth workers, teachers and Providing a channel for donors
health practitioners to support the work of our
international partners in
Providing support to parents
on how to talk to their children delivering education and training,
and care for those whose
about relationships and sex lives have been affected by
HIV and AIDS
Training and mobilising churches
to facilitate conversations around

relationships and sex

6 acet UK • Celebrating 30 years

ACET teams continue to flourish across The following pages highlight acet UK’s What we do / International Support and ACET Uganda
sub-Saharan Africa, Eastern Europe, work together with key partners, who
and Central Asia inspired by the call to we support through fundraising and
care for those in need, to educate and training. Other members of the ACET
train others, and with a desire to make family also continue their faithful
AIDS history. service in Czech Republic, Latvia,
Lithuania, Slovakia, and Russia.

ACET Uganda

In 1988, Pastor Balaki Kirya appealed includes partnering with the Ministries of
to the Dixons about the urgent need Health and Education to develop a national
for a response to AIDS in Uganda. training of trainers manual. With o ces in
Two years later, ACET Uganda began Kampala, Kitgum, Mbale, Gulu, and Pader,
to change attitudes and dispel myths ACET Uganda remains committed to
about HIV and encourage the church supporting young people and sharing
towards a compassionate response. what they have learned with others.
Soon after, they began a relatively
new approach developing life skills ACET Uganda
programming for young people. begins & other
This led to an invitation to sit on a ACETs begin
national life skills committee alongside opening in Eastern
UNICEF, UNDP, and the National
Curriculum Development Centre. Europe

Today, ACET Uganda uses their expertise
to influence other organisations in Africa
and develop responses to HIV and sexual
health issues. Their most recent work

1990

acet UK • Celebrating 30 years 7

ACET Uganda “I live wi th my elder brother. Af ter
the death of my parents, I started
Key aspects of the project going for night dances instead of
at tending school. I made trouble wi th
● HIV prevention and sexual health my teachers and my friends. I fel t
training for teachers, church leaders, big and that I needed no advice.
and peer educators
That was when ACET Uganda came
● Life skills education in local schools to our school and taught us about
to reduce young people’s vulnerability adolescence and puberty. They
to HIV and support them in making challenged me to analyse myself,
healthy choices because the way you handle these
things will determine your future.
● Vocational skills training and
advocacy for orphans and vulnerable From that t ime I decided to change
children, including village savings and my lifestyle. If you ask my teachers,
loan associations and encouraging they will tell you that I am a new
self-advocacy Dembe. Thank you ACET for
changing my life! Now I have a
● Special partnerships with organisations fu t ure. I am si t t ing my finals nex t
such as Friends of ACET Uganda and year, hopefully I will pass and join
Rianna’s Fund UK to construct and high school.”
establish local schools and orphanages
Dembe, 15 years old
● Consultation and technical support
to other organisations regarding HIV,
sexual and reproductive health, and life
skills programming and development

With support from acet UK,
ACET Uganda has an average
annual reach of:

72,000 young people receiving life

skills education

264 church leaders and peer educators

sharing HIV prevention and sexual
health education

8 acet UK • Celebrating 30 years

ACET Thailand The House of Grace International Support / ACET Thailand and The House of Grace

As the first Christian organisation in Pastor Kitisak and his wife Jariya
Thailand involved in HIV and AIDS heard their call when reading Love
work, ACET Thailand brought sexual Your Neighbour, a magazine by ACET
health education to young people Thailand to educate and challenge
in secondary schools and motivated churches to show acceptance and
the church towards a compassionate compassion towards those a ected
response. They partnered with the by HIV and AIDS.
Ministry of Health to lead a large
home-based care programme run They invited ACET Thailand to speak
by local church volunteers, first in to their church members, who were
Bangkok, and then across 11 provinces. afraid because people living with AIDS
and their children had started coming
By God’s grace, AIDS related deaths have to their church. Their caring hearts
reduced significantly and ACET Thailand eventually led them to open their
now focuses fully on prevention work. home to two AIDS orphans and the
House of Grace was born.
Their current work in Singburi
includes Sadly, a lack of understanding and fear
about HIV and AIDS still exists today.
● Delivering their SMART Life education Children who have no one to care for
programme to young people in Singburi them and desperately need a loving
secondary school home are welcomed. Around 40-60
children a ected by HIV and AIDS call
● HIV awareness events and support groups the House of Grace home, receiving
for people living with HIV education, physical and medical care,
and a Christian upbringing.
● Encouraging HIV fellowship groups in
local churches

ACET
Thailand
begins

1992

acet UK • Celebrating 30 years 9

ACET Ukraine

After the director of ACET Czech ● University of Healthy Youth, a supplementary
Republic opened the eyes of course that helps educators choose topics to
volunteers to the realities of the HIV best support the needs of young people in
pandemic in Eastern Europe, ACET their contexts
Ukraine was born. Since these
early days, ACET Ukraine has had ● Interactive video assemblies which use
a heart for young people. Their videos and discussion to engage large
enthusiastic team of volunteers groups of young people
educate youth throughout the
country and demonstrate the value ● Youth Clubs to disciple young people by
of healthy choices. exploring their gifts and talents, raising their
self-esteem, and promoting social activism
Young people in Ukraine face many serious
challenges to their health and wellbeing. ● Parents’ evenings and teacher trainings
Alcohol consumption by children and youth to support adults to confidently discuss
is the highest in the world and suicides are relationships and sex with young people
the second leading cause of death among
adolescents. ACET Ukraine brings hope by ● Educating church leaders about
o ering young people the knowledge and relationships and sex education, child
tools necessary for building a healthy future. psychology, family relationships, and ministry
development for young people
Key aspects of the project
● Social campaigns to promote improved
● Educating young people through a Ministry health and wellbeing in local communities
approved curriculum which encourages
healthy lifestyles and building positive With acet UK’s support,
relationships ACET Ukraine has grown from:

92 volunteers delivering relationships
16and sex education lectures to young

people in cities to...
246 247,0900volunteers championing healthy
lifestyles to more than

young people each year in cities

10 acet UK • Celebrating 30 years

“ Thanks to conversat ions wi th International Support / ACET Ukraine
my educators, I understand the
Home based care importance of my life even
in London ends! more and that I am valuable
Esteem education and needed in this world.
becomes part of I began to respect myself.”
the Oasis Trust
& ACET Ukraine Dasha, 13 years old

begins “ Real friends and family are not
given to everyone. Bu t from
2002 your first meet ing, the ACET
team becomes your family and
friends. These people replace
cigarettes in your mind with
positive ideas, and alcohol and
drugs with social outreach
activities! And you become part
of this family, without even
noticing it.”

Alexandra, 18 years old

“ Today, I heard something that
changed my relat ionship wi th
my son. I realized that only
kind words, sinceri ty, at tent ion
and expressions of love can
influence him, not anger.
Thank you so much."

Mother of a 14 year old, Zhitomir

“ Interesting information, relevant
topics, and clear presentation.
Al though I myself am a
psychologist, I learned a lot
from you. You have changed
my percep t ion of adolescents,
their needs, and principles of
their education. All the best in
your work!”

School Psychologist, Ivano-Frankivsk

acet UK • Celebrating 30 years 11

ACET Nigeria

ACET Nigeria grew out of a ● Esteem training and education pilot which
collaboration between acet UK equips Kids Club leaders to support young
and Scripture Union West Africa people in our digital age
to distribute AIDS and You and
The Truth about AIDS by Dr Patrick ● Peer education which enables parents and
Dixon. Spurred by the overwhelming carers to improve the health and wellbeing
need for more, ACET Nigeria began of their children and strengthen family
to build the capacity of churches and relationships
local communities to show God’s love
by providing care and support for ● Tackling sexual gender based violence
people a ected by HIV and AIDS. and addressing gender inequalities through
training church leaders and a social media
With the second largest HIV epidemic in the campaign
world and one of the fastest growing infection
rates, this mission remains relevant. Today, Since partnering together
ACET Nigeria equips rural communities in in 2006, ACET Nigeria and
north-central Nigeria to respond to those acet UK have:
most vulnerable, particularly children and
young people. Working together to adapt 2,457Trained champions of HIV
the Esteem curriculum for use in Kids Clubs,
acet UK and ACET Nigeria want to see more awareness and education
children, young people, and their families
having open and honest discussions about 258,173Spread educational messages and
relationships and sex.
transformed attitudes of
Key aspects of the project people within small, rural communities

● Comprehensive HIV and AIDS intervention
training which transforms the heart attitude
of church leaders and inspires them to
champion HIV education and create
ministries for people living with or a ected
by HIV

● Kids Clubs which o er recreational activities,
relationships and sex education, and
opportunities to explore the Gospel

12 acet UK • Celebrating 30 years

“ ACET Nigeria is so unique, caring, International Support / ACET Nigeria
and loving. They discuss things that
happen to us daily - how we feel
as we grow up, the changes in our
body, the way we relate with our
friends, parents, and other adults.
This makes me know things that will
help me build strong relat ionships.”

Melody, 13 years old

“ The best thing abou t the Kids Club
is the way they teach us how to
live our lives as children. If you
have Jesus as a youth, you have
everything and I learnt that Jesus is
the best teacher.”

Mary, 15 years old

“ I am encouraged to know that sex is
worth wai t ing for. The Esteem club
has persuaded me that sex is good
but not a thing to be rushed into,
especially at my age. It has helped
me to aspire to impart this knowledge
to younger ones in the future.”

Michael, 18 years old

acet UK & Tearfund
form a global

partnership leading
to ACET Nigeria
and other ACETs
internationally

2006

acet UK • Celebrating 30 years 13

The Shining Star Project

As they reached out to people living with HIV and AIDS, the Nehemiah AIDS Relief
Project realized the hold that sex work has over women and their children in
Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. Living in extreme poverty, with little education or skills to
draw on, women resort to sex work to provide for their families’ needs.

The Shining Star Project was created to
bring hope and healing and each year
works intensively with a core group of
women in sex work to see amazing life
transformation. Recently, the project
has expanded to include girls (some as
young as 10 years old) and university
or college students who use ‘sugar
daddies’ to pay their tuition.

Key aspects of the project ● Church mobilisation to transform attitudes
and engage the Church in caring for and
● Peer education training which helps reach responding to the needs of sex workers in
more girls and women in sex work with HIV their communities
prevention and sexual health education
Since partnering together
● Discipling the core group of girls and in 2015, the Nehemiah
women through regular prayer support, Project and acceett UUKKhhaavvee;:
devotions and Bible studies, and a spiritual
retreat BBrroouugghhtt HHIIVV pprreevveennttiioonn aanndd sseexx eedduuccaattiioonn to

● Income generation and business skills 7,71,91797to girlgsiralnsdanwdowmoemn en
training to explore their gifts and talents 8899SSuuppppoorrtteedd ggiirrllss aanndd wwoommeenn ttoo

● Cooperative business ventures which peer ccoouurraaggeeoouussllyy lleeaavvee tthhee sseexx ttrraaddee aanndd create
educators can participate in alongside or
before launching their own independent 5533ncerewatbeunseinwesbsuessinesses
businesses
WWiittnneesssseedd ggiirrllss aanndd wwoommeenn
● Parenting workshops and home visits which ggiivvee tthheeiirr hheeaarrttss ttoo JJeessuuss
o er practical advice about raising a family
and emotional support

14 acet UK • Celebrating 30 years

“I became pregnant when I was 18. “God will make International Support / The Shining Star Project
The father of my son deserted me a way for me.
and I had to depend on my parents God can change
to provide for myself and my child.
I knew that we were a burden. lives.”

When my son was just over 1 year Nehemiah AIDS
old, he became ill and passed away. Relief begins the
I am still grieving his loss. I have
always loved God and trusted Shining Star
that He will make a way for me. Project
But I was depressed and
contemplated suicide. 2006

I had heard a lot abou t The Shining acet UK • Celebrating 30 years 15
Star Project and I wanted to
learn new skills. I did some baking
lessons and learned cooking and
hairdressing. They taugh t me how
to sell cakes so as to earn a living
instead of engaging in sex work.
I was taught condom usage and how
to prevent myself from HIV infect ion.
I also had counselling sessions that
continue to help me, even today.

Being part of the prayer groups
has changed my life. I am happier
than I was before and I trust
that my current troubles will not
last forever. Because of the
project I have decided to go back
to school and get a degree in
accounting. I now believe that
God can change lives.”

Theresa, Bulawayo

IAnCteErTn’astiCoonmalmunity ACET Zimbabwe
Care Programme
For too long, Zimbabwe has had one
Intro text of the highest rates of HIV in the world.
The Community Care Programme ACET Zimbabwe was launched to focus
(CCP) began as Willard and Modester on prevention e orts and compliment the
Ndlovu were moved to care for those work of the Community Care Programme.
whose lives had been devastated by With HIV having such a massive impact on
the AIDS pandemic. people’s daily lives, there was a clear need
to increase education and o er more
Working together with village heads, support. Over the years, ACET Zimbabwe
committed volunteers, and ACET Ireland, partnered with the church to bring
they have faithfully served small, rural prevention programmes such as Channels
communities in Matabeleland, Zimbabwe of Hope and mentorship for couples to
since 2001. Extreme poverty, high improve understanding and compassionate
incidence of HIV, and constant concern responses to HIV and AIDS.
about failed harvests is a challenge, but
ACET CCP continues in the knowledge ACET Zimbabwe
that they are the hands and feet of Jesus. begins thanks
to acet UK
Key aspects of the project & Tearfund’s
partnership
● Schools breakfast programme which
helps children, most impacted by HIV, attain 2006
primary education by providing a daily
breakfast

● Home based care to support with
medication adherence and activities of
daily living for people living with HIV

● Tuition and nutrition support for children
living with or a ected by HIV

● Life skills education to help young people
make positive choices about their health
and wellbeing

● Youth skills training centre which gives
young people the skills to find secure and
stable means of earning an income

● Early childhood education centre which
improves education access for local
children

16 acet UK • Celebrating 30 years

Nireekshana ACET Their current work includes International Support / ACET CCP, Nireekshana ACET, and Central Asia ACETs

Nireekshana ACET began when Drs ● Holistic medical care which includes
Sujai and Lavanya Suneetha started counselling and testing for HIV and
treating people living with HIV in prevention and treatment of opportunistic
their living room. The Suneethas infections
were shocked by the stigma and
discrimination these patients ● Counselling and home based care to
experienced and sought to change support with medication adherence, hospital
attitudes, as well as provide care. appointments, and the emotional impact of
the virus
Their medical clinic in Hyderabad now
provides holistic care to over 5,000 patients, ● Educating young people in schools about
with 480 regular visitors each month. reproduction and sexual health
Doctors, nurses, and many volunteers come
together to provide loving support to ● Education outreach in slum communities
people living with and a ected by HIV. about HIV, water, sanitisation, and hygiene

● Tuition and nutrition support for children
living in poverty with HIV

● Income generation projects for women
living with HIV to have viable means to
earn a living

ACETs in Central Asia Nireekshana ACET
begins thanks
All ACET partners work to mobilise churches to acet UK
and deliver education that is specific to their & Tearfund’s
cultural context. For some, this means facing partnership
persecution and personal risks for these
actions. We give thanks for ACET volunteers in 2006
Central Asian countries who remain convicted
in their faith and follow God’s calling in spite acet UK • Celebrating 30 years 17
of this oppression. We ask for God’s continued
protection on their lives and their families.

Key aspects of their work

● Training church leaders to address
relationships and sexual health issues and
create social ministries

● Educating young people about sexual and
reproductive health, drug and alcohol abuse,
and HIV

● Educating parents about child development
and the importance of strong parent-child
relationships

ACET Belarus ● Parents’ evenings and teachers’ seminars to
give these adults knowledge and confidence
Following participation in several in their conversations with young people
ACET Russia conferences, Alexander
Zhibrik started ACET Belarus as a ● Mobilising churches to change attitudes and
ministry opportunity. At the time, there behaviours regarding relationships and sex
were few opportunities in Belarus within their culture and their nation
for Christians to practically serve and
live out their faith in society. Through ● Prison education to reduce HIV infection
education in schools and universities, and drug addictions, as well as opportunities
volunteer educators inspire young to form supportive relationships that
people to see their value and make encourage rehabilitation
healthy choices.
With support from acet UK,
Education of young people was and is ACET ACET Belarus has grown from:
Belarus’ biggest concern as young people
make up the largest percentage of those 1,648Delivering education to young
infected by HIV. Many visitors from countries
with high incidence of HIV frequently cross people in secondary schools and
the border which also opens up risks of
drug tra cking and abuse. Volunteers from universities in Minsk each year to...
Catholic, Baptist, Evangelical, Orthodox, 12,837Delivering education to
Pentecostal, and Gospel churches join young
together to promote healthy lifestyles among
young people and improve their relational people annually in secondary schools,
and sexual health.
universities, military training colleges,
Key aspects of the project
and churches in major cities and
● Educating young people in secondary
schools, colleges and universities, and across six regions of the country
military training colleges

● Interactive talk shows where young
people take inspiration from the lives and
experience of positive role models such as
Olympic athletes, pop stars, and other public
figures

18 acet UK • Celebrating 30 years

International Support / ACET Belarus

“ All the topics that were covered by “ When you refuse to have alcohol and
this project were important to me. The cigarettes, you get rejected and called
information was given to us bit by ‘weak’ or ‘a girl.’ Now it doesn`t bother
bi t. Therefore, each lesson gave us me, I defend my choice, and somet imes
more confidence and the need to think people agree with me.”
seriously about our life and health.
I never used to think about certain Vlad, 17 years old
issues, bu t trainings like this give you
an opport uni ty to see things through “After listening to ACET’s lecture I
different eyes and to have a good learned that it is wonderful to be loved
think about it all.” and not used. I believe that these
lectures are useful for young people.”
Olga, 14 years old
Vasiliy, 19 years old

“ After you came to see us and held ACET Belarus
course lect ures I started thinking a lot begins
abou t my life! I understand now how
precious I am and that my life is in my
own hands.”

Tatiana, 16 years old

2007

acet UK • Celebrating 30 years 19

ACET Democratic Republic of Congo

The passion of church leaders, and some close mentoring from ACET Uganda,
began the work of ACET Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). From the beginning,
ACET DRC excelled at gaining the interest of senior church leaders to participate in
their training. Knowledge then trickles down from the highest levels of leadership
to teachers, school chaplains, youth pastors, and lay people working within their
communities.

Facing long-standing conflict and Key aspects of the project
government corruption, the Church provides
much-needed stability in the DRC. ● Training church leaders to deliver life skills
Running schools, healthcare centres, and education and counselling in local schools
hospitals, churches and their leaders are
recognized and trusted sources of knowledge. ● Peer education clubs which train students
ACET DRC equips church leaders to break as peer educators to champion relational
taboos and myths surrounding sex and share and sexual health among their peers
Biblically based truths about relationships and
sex. For many, this application of Scripture ● Parent-teacher symposiums to encourage
to their everyday lives is a new and exciting parents and teachers to discuss these ‘taboo’
approach to their faith. topics with young people

● Weekly radio programmes which invite
prominent church leaders to promote
reproduction and sexual health to a wider
audience

Together, acet UK
and ACET DRC have:

788Trained champions of relationships

and sex education in their communities

Partnered with the Église du Christ au Congo,
the world’s largest union of Protestant
denominations, to reach millions of
congregants with reproductive and
sexual health education

20 acet UK • Celebrating 30 years

“My name is Ray and I am a trainer ACET DRC is different because they International Support / ACET Democratic Republic of Congo
and youth mentor. In our ministry we have succeeded in breaking the taboo
encountered many problems related on sex in their teachings. They give
to relationships, spending days and churches space to talk about sex
evenings resolving conflicts. Now we wi th respect and even help pastors
work in partnership wi th ACET DRC talk about condoms in HIV prevention
to support young people and popularize without hesitation.
messages of good health.
I feel more and more the responsibility
Lessons, such as the one on everyday to share the fruitful knowledge that I
life skills, have challenged me. acquired from ACET DRC. Every day
I learned to find words to appreciate there is a fire in my heart for young
my wife and talk openly to my children. people without Jesus and who are
My family members talk abou t our vulnerable. I now find myself armed
int imate problems and speak of sex to fulfil the mission that God has
as a precious gift of God that we entrusted to me with young people and
must protect. married couples.”

“The taboo on sex has
been broken in our
house.”

ACET DRC
begins

2007

acet UK • Celebrating 30 years 21

Educating young people has Esteem education encourages 11-18 year olds
been at the heart of acet UK’s to see their value, the value of others, and
work from the beginning. As how precious sex is.
education work grew, lessons
developed to show young Key messages within our
people that they are significant, programme
precious, and unique. These
were the seeds for the current ● Young people are significant, precious,
Esteem programme. and unique and healthy self-esteem is an
important foundation of relationships
Esteem became part of the Oasis
Trust in 2002 and then an independent ● Sex and sexual health is delivered in the
charity in 2011. Throughout these context of relationships and we promote
changes, Esteem and acet UK worked respect, commitment, and faithfulness
closely together and in 2014, Esteem
once again became an acet UK project. ● Sex is so good, wonderful, and precious that
Today, Esteem includes both our it deserves to be highly valued and is worth
training of relationships and sexual waiting for
health educators and our education
work with young people. ● Positive choices about relationships and sex
are key to our physical, emotional, and social
The HIV landscape has changed dramatically wellbeing
since 1988 and our education focuses on the
wider context of relational and sexual health. We encourage young people to develop their
In our highly sexualised and digital culture, critical thinking skills and engage with our
where porn is readily accessible, appearances sessions as they apply to their daily lives. Our
count for everything, and sexting is the norm, aim is to help young people make informed
growing up can be incredibly challenging. and independent decisions, supporting them
to develop positive values and considered
belief systems.

22 acet UK • Celebrating 30 years

Esteem Network Esteem / Esteem Network

The Esteem Network was created to see young people across the UK supported
with quality relationships and sex education. The Network equips, resources,
and supports youth workers and other youth practitioners to deliver our Esteem
programme to young people. Educators then work alongside schools, churches,
and other youth organisations to help young people make wise and healthy choices
about their relationships and sexual health.

Our interactive, 4 day training course is delivered across the UK with the option of
accreditation through the Open College Network. After training, participants become part of
the Network, gain a licence to use our resources, and have access to continued professional
development. Our training remains informed by our education delivery and keeps pace with
RSE trends, government guidance, best practice, and feedback from young people.

Esteem training equips educators to The Esteem Network has
grown from:
● Support young people in building self-
esteem 9,02070,000Reachingyoung people in 2011
young people
● Support young people to develop healthy to more than
relationships receiving Esteem education from our

● Support young people to develop skills members today
and resilience regarding the influence
and impact of modern technology ● Plan and deliver e ective, fun, and
on relationships and sex (including interactive sessions with young people
pornography)
● Apply best practice and recommended
● Communicate to young people the government policy guidelines
importance of making healthy choices
about sex

Esteem education
once again
becomes an

acet UK project

2014

acet UK • Celebrating 30 years 23

Esteem Network

We also o er bespoke training and INSET days for schools, churches, and youth organisations
looking to improve their knowledge and confidence about relationships and sex education or
wanting to hear from us about specific topics.

“ I feel far more confident with the “ It really increased my knowledge,
bread th of issues wrapped up in skills and confidence in this area and
relationships and sex education. I feel challenged me to assimilate and pract ice
equipped to deliver this in a classroom what I was learning.”
and feel I have some good tips and
ideas for types of activity I could do.” “ The course is very informat ive and
coaches you along the right path to be
“ Thank you so much. Fantast ic training, able to confidently deliver a workshop
delivered with great knowledge and to a class full of students.”
professionalism.”

24 acet UK • Celebrating 30 years

Parents’ Workshops Esteem / Parents’ Workshops

Relationships and sex education is a This can be daunting, particularly for those
shared e ort between parents and who did not receive quality relationships
carers, educators, and the wider family and sex education themselves. Instead of
and community. While other adults focusing on ‘the talk’, we explore di erent
can o er support, we believe that approaches to having ongoing conversations
relationships and sex education needs that build young people’s knowledge and
to start at home, with open and understanding. Our aim is to give parents
honest conversations led by parents and carers the knowledge and confidence
and carers. to talk about relationships and sex in age-
appropriate and positive ways.

“I now feel more comfortable to talk about
the topic and confident to share my
values in all I do as a parent.”

“Excellent - well pitched and reassuringly
non-squirmy!”

Workshops include “This workshop has defini tely widened my
horizon and I got good resources to look
● Overview of the social landscape children at later on. Thank you so much for this
are growing up in, including the impact of excellent talk!”
the media and technology
Would you like to
● Learning about child development and attend one of our parents’
the teenage brain
workshops?
● Key messages to share with your family
Would you like to
● Practical suggestions and ideas of how arrange a parents’ workshop
to get started
at your school, church,
To reach more parents and carers across the or community event?
UK, we are also creating online videos and
resources to support parents and carers as Contact us at:
they encourage their children to make wise
and healthy choices. [email protected]

‘Like’ us on Facebook @acetUK ‘Follow’ us on Twitter @esteem_acetUK 25
email us at [email protected] to keep informed about
parents’ resources as they are developed and released!

Esteem in Southwark

acet UK has delivered Esteem ● Working alongside teachers to respond to
sessions to young people in the the challenges and concerns of their students
borough of Southwark for the past
seven years. We work with schools, ● Supporting parents to talk openly
parents, and the local council to and honestly with their children about
improve the relational wellbeing and relationships and sex
sexual health of Year 7s – Year 12s in
Southwark’s secondary schools and ● Regular participation in meetings with
alternative education settings. partnership agencies supporting youth in
Southwark
With a population that is young and
ethnically diverse, Southwark is the ● Development of resources and bespoke
12th most deprived of 32 London training programmes for use throughout
boroughs. High HIV, STI, and teenage the UK
conception rates, along with risks
from gang culture and child sexual 6 months after their last
exploitation, are particular challenges Esteem session, 42 Year 12s
to the wellbeing of Southwark’s young were surveyed:
people. Our educators build young
people’s self-esteem, encourage 98% strongly agreed/agreed that the
positive relationships, and improve
understanding about sexual health so sessions were worthwhile
that young people can make wise and
healthy choices. 90% strongly agreed/agreed that the

Key aspects of the project sessions have influenced their
future decision-making about
● Delivering multi-sessional education relationships and sex
to increase confidence, knowledge, and
understanding about relationships and sexual
health

Esteem education topics: ● Self-esteem ● Puberty ● Building healthy relationships
● Risks of unhealthy relationships ● Consent ● Sex ● Sexually transmitted infections (STIs)
● HIV ● Conception and contraception ● Parenthood and teenage pregnancy ● Sexting and
online behaviour ● Media distortions of relationships and sex (including pornography)

26 acet UK • Celebrating 30 years

What did you learn from Esteem / Esteem in Southwark
this lesson?

“You shouldn’t let anyone pu t you
down because we are all equal
in worth.”

Year 7 student, Sacred Heart RC School

“The values we have impact our
relat ionships.”

Year 9 student, Globe Academy

“The legal components of consent
and examples of emotional abuse.”

Year 12 student, Bacon’s College

“BEST LESSON EVER!

I liked the demonstrat ions
and that my confidence
was boosted.”

Year 8 student, Sacred Heart RC School

Feedback from teachers

“ These sessions allow young
people to think about how their
act ions impact others.”

Newlands Academy

“ Any school would benefit
from these sessions. All
children should know these
things! Parents are not always
comfortable with having these
discussions.”

Ark All Saints Academy

acet UK • Celebrating 30 years 27

Esteem in Ancora House

Educators at Ancora House, an inpatient mental health unit for young people,
approached acet UK with a problem. They wanted their young people to have
access to quality relationships and sex education but felt they lacked the skills
required to teach this subject.

Mental health problems among young After Esteem sessions,
people are on the rise, specifically young people compared
depression and anxiety. Up to 14 young them to previous RSE lessons:
people from Cheshire and Merseyside
live at Ancora House for 3 to 6 months. 4.4/10Average rating of previous education
While their mental health challenges are 8.6/10Average rating of Esteem sessions
diverse, each young person still needs
support navigating adolescence. With Key aspects of the project
feedback from the Anocra House team
and young people, acet UK created ● Educating young people about topics
a bespoke programme to provide such as self-esteem, emotional literacy,
engaging relationships and relationships, contraceptives, body image
sex education. and distortions of the media, and online
safety
Young people
share their ● Developing supportive relationships with
opinions about young people living on the unit
Esteem in Ancora
House ● Supporting education and clinical teams
with concerns about young people’s
28 acet UK • Celebrating 30 years relational and sexual health

The Boys’ The Boys’ Project topics include Esteem / Ancora House and The Boys’ and Girls’ Projects
and Girls’ Projects
● Becoming a good man
While educating in Southwark, ● Defining respect and respecting
feedback from focus groups revealed
some challenges. Young people felt women
there was a lack of respect from ● Relationships and consent
the opposite gender and verbal and ● Pornography and the media
physical abuse was common. ● Sexual health
Teachers agreed that a culture of
disrespect was growing and raised The Girls’ Project topics include
concerns about sexual exploitation
and grooming in the borough. ● Self-esteem and body image
● Anxiety and peer pressure
acet UK developed The Boys’ Project to ● Relationships and consent
help small groups of boys consider the ● Sexual exploitation and grooming
concept of manhood and their choices ● Objectification in the media
as they relate to character formation. We
currently deliver the course in Southwark
and it has been particularly useful for boys
who have been excluded from mainstream
school settings.

Similarly, The Girls’ Project was created
to help small groups of girls reach their
full potential and flourish into the young
women they desire to be. Looking to help
girls realize their self-worth and establish
healthy boundaries, the course focuses
on raising girls’ awareness of sexual
grooming and exploitation.

The Boys’ Project
is released & work

at Ancora House
begins

2016

acet UK • Celebrating 30 years 29

The Boys’ Ofsted stated that:
and Girls’ Projects
“...the school provides expert ly run
For the past two years, we have o ered six-week courses which enable
specialist training for our Esteem Network
members to deliver The Boys’ Project and groups of pupils to explore heal thy
we will shortly be releasing this training relat ionships, personal responsibili ty
for The Girls’ Project. and self-esteem. The impact of these
courses is excep t ional. Pupils gain the
One of our members, The Message confidence to explore these mat ters
Trust, delivers The Boys’ Project at
Grace Academy, another member that openly and intelligently.
runs three academies in the Midlands. Leaders’ analysis of the impact of
Ofsted inspected Grace Academy Solihull, these sessions shows that pupils’
speaking to a couple of boys who behaviour, attendance and wellbeing
participated in the sessions, as well as increases and they begin to achieve
teachers overseeing the course.
more in school.”
Sarah Bartlett, the project leader at Grace
Academy wrote to us and said, The Girls’ Project
is launched
“ Thanks for helping to contribu te to
an ou tstanding grade and for real life
impact on our students.”

2018

30 acet UK • Celebrating 30 years

“Quote”

Regular text
Light text

Join with us
and champion healthy
relationships and sexual wellbeing

Pray Invite us Sign up Talk to us
for us to speak at for our parents’ about Esteem
& encourage your church workshops &
others to do training
the same resources & Network
membership

Give a gift Keep in Share this
that inspires touch through brochure
more good our newsletter with your
friends, church,
work & social & school
media

[email protected]

01244 566111

Young people living
out good relational

& sexual health!

The Future

acet UK • Celebrating 30 years 31

Contact us

www.acet-uk.com
[email protected]

01244 566111
@acetUK @esteem_acetUK @esteem_acetUK

Registered address:
Abbey House, Abbey Green, Chester, CH1 2JH

acet UK is the working name of AIDS Care Education and Training

Registered Charity No: 299293 Company No: 2245302