One of several projects in Mexico from this Country Chairman..... ndres Robles, RIFPD Country Chairman of Mexico, has organized a Matching Grant
between La Herradura Rotary club, District 4170 Mexico and Los Gatos Rotary, District 5170 USA. The Project is in cooperation with the Mexican Family Planning
Association. Mexfam is the largest Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) in Mexico,  providing high quality medical and educational services in family planning,
reproductive health and sex education. Its services reach 300,000 families and 380,000 young people, among the poorest in
Mexico. Mexfam Director General Alphonso Lopez Jaurez, says a major obstacle to family planning is overcoming the traditional
belief that "young people must be ignorant on sexual matters in order to protect their abstinence of sex."
The project provided for the mass publication of a book, Libro de Consulta en Sexualidad (Reference Book on Sexuality). Central themes of the book are:
- Self Esteem- especially girls
- Communication
- Sexual Development
- The Couple - first relationships
- Sexual Health - responsible, respectful
- Sexual Diseases
- Family Planning
- Media - break down stereotypes
 The book, written at the eighth grade level for the middle class, is in simple, direct
language. It can be used by parents, children, schools, teachers, and counselors. Its overall objective is to promote
high moral values, generate new attitudes, and, to change the sexual culture among youth in Mexico.
Total Matching Grant Funds are $24,000. Rotarians will provide for the distribution and use of of approximately 10,000 copies of the book.
In an effort to stabilize population, the Mexican Government has established 15,000 Family Planning Centers
throughout Mexico, where contraceptive devices of all types are freely available. |
