Many schools and teachers would like to do more to promote positive and inclusive sexuality education. However, a number of questions arise:

  • How do you create a safe atmosphere?
  • How do you deal with giggling teenagers and the awkwardness, perhaps also your own?
  • Do you know enough about all the topics?
  • What teaching packages are available, and where can you find them?
  • How do you convince colleagues that it is about more than biology?

That is exactly where Rutgers and Soa Aids Nederland provide support during the Week of Love. Participation is free, and you receive a package containing promotional and practical materials.

Why taking part is so important

From the birds and the bees to sexting and consent. The topics and focus change over time. But one thing remains the same when you are in secondary school or vocational education: love, relationships and sex occupy your thoughts more than the Pythagorean theorem.

The fact that attention to sex and relationships at school is still necessary in 2025 is clearly demonstrated by the study Sex under 25. Condom use among young people has declined considerably, the group that does not use contraception is growing, and STI figures are rising.

Young people feel that the information they receive at school about relationships and sex is insufficient. They want not only more lessons about relationships and sex, but also attention to topics that go beyond reproduction, such as online sexuality, consent, and expressing, recognising and respecting wishes and boundaries, pleasure and diversity. This is another reason why it is important to discuss relationships and sex at school in a clear, contemporary and personal way.

Will you take part again too?

During the week of Valentine's Day in 2024, almost 4,000 teachers from secondary (special) education, practical education and secondary vocational education across the country taught at least one lesson on relationships and sexuality. In 2025, Soa Aids Nederland and Rutgers are once again organising this annual project week in collaboration with the regional public health services (GGDs). Will you take part again too? From 10 to 14 February 2025. Participation is free.

Register via the registration form

Receive the free package with promotional and practical materials

What do you receive when you register? Among other things:

  • Promotional materials to display at school
  • A webinar (before the week) for teachers, with tips & tools
  • Access to (online) training sessions & tools
  • Condoms
  • A lesson plan and a menu full of inspiration and suggestions for organising the week and a curriculum after the week
  • The booklet ‘99 questions about young people and sex’, based on the results of the study ‘Sex under 25’
  • The Anonymous Week of Love Question Box with accompanying cards, allowing students to ask questions anonymously

Getting started

To ensure a successful start to the Week of Love, Rutgers and Soa Aids Nederland support schools before the week with training sessions, teaching materials and these practical tips.

1. Develop a clear vision

As a teaching team and school management, work on a clear vision of relationships and sexuality. Why do we pay attention to relational and sexual education? How do we deal with sexual behaviour in the classroom? How do we ensure a safe environment for all students? In many regions, the GGD provides support in developing and implementing a vision and policy.

2. Attend training sessions

Teaching about relationships and sexuality is not equally easy for everyone. Make sure you are well prepared by attending training sessions. We offer several options:

3. Plan the activities

Decide in advance who will teach which lessons and announce them in good time, for example through the newsletter or the school website. If you involve external parties, make sure there are clear agreements. To inform parents, you can use the example letters for parents (low language level or high language level).

4. Ask the GGD for support

The regional GGD can provide support, such as training teachers or organising parent evenings. Contact the GGD in your region.

5. Use recognised teaching materials

The Lang Leve de Liefde, Living Loving or Be-Loved teaching packages are, for example, highly suitable. Naturally, you can also use other recognised teaching materials, preferably as part of a continuous learning pathway. In this way, you contribute to the relational and sexual health, resilience and well-being of your students! Use overview cards showing recognised teaching materials by type of education and year group:

6. Build a continuous learning pathway

Since 2012, ‘sexuality’ and ‘sexual diversity’ have been part of the core objectives for the lower grades of secondary education and secondary special education. The continuous sexuality education pathway (ages 0–18) helps translate the core objectives into lesson objectives.

7. Explore tips and tools

The Week of Love toolkit offers useful tools and formats, including tips from teachers on teaching. You can also find tips in this tip sheet for teachers, by teachers, on providing positive and inclusive relational and sexual education.

Structural attention to relationships and sexuality

After the Week of Love, it is important to evaluate the project week. Discuss the students’ and teachers’ responses, identify where more attention is needed and determine the most important outcomes for the school.

Based on this evaluation, you can decide whether and how relational and sexual education can be given a permanent place in the school curriculum. This is more effective than ad hoc activities. Working together on a vision and policy helps embed this theme within the school. The Week of Love is a starting point, but sustained attention to relational and sexual education in the school plan has the greatest impact.