The Week of Love aims to introduce schools to the theme of relationships and sexuality. It is a good starting point for giving school-wide attention to relationship and sex education in an enjoyable way.

What does the Week of Love involve?

During this Week, lessons about love are given throughout the country! If you take part, you give at least one lesson about relationships and sexuality. The evidence-based Long Live Love teaching package, for example, is highly suitable. Of course, you can also use other recognised teaching materials, preferably as part of a continuous learning pathway. To do so, use the overview cards.

Theme 2023: Being who you are

Everyone is different. We differ not only in appearance and background, but also in who we are attracted to, how we identify and what we do and do not enjoy doing in bed. This period of schooling is a stage of life in which young people discover these things about themselves and learn how to deal with them – both in relation to themselves and to others. The Week of Love gives schools and teachers the tools to respond to this in their lessons.

Take part in the competition and create a poster about love, relationships and sex. The winner will receive the Week of Love Award, a cake for their entire class and €500 to spend on educational programmes and activities at school about love, relationships and sex.

Tips for teachers

The Sex Education website offers various tips for teachers:

  • Use one of the recognised interventions.
  • Make diversity the norm. Explain that it is normal. Also acknowledge the broad diversity in the classroom.
  • Ask open questions and use diverse names.
  • Pay attention to gender stereotypes.
  • Set clear standards. You are a role model for students. Do not tolerate hurtful behaviour.
  • Create a safe and respectful atmosphere. Explain that it is completely normal to be searching for who you are. Asking directly about, for example, a sexual preference can be intimidating.
  • Take a broader perspective. It can sometimes be effective to broaden the subject in order to create more understanding, making it more recognisable for students.
  • Allow students to ask questions anonymously. Order or create a question box.
  • Provide positive information. Do not devote excessive attention to discrimination in the lesson. Encourage students to share positive views or experiences in class.
  • Avoid ‘we’ and ‘they’. Avoid distinctions in your choice of language. This creates unwanted distance.
  • Encourage encounters and make room for personal stories. For example, visit sense.info.