COC Amsterdam e.o. Information
Every day, our volunteer educators work at schools in and around Amsterdam, educating students about sexual diversity. The educators, who stand in pairs in front of the class, engage with young people and answer their questions. We also offer the RAINBOW teaching package. With this we not only bring experience and awareness to this generation, but we also provide teachers with support on how to deal with sexual diversity and a safe environment to discuss this topic. We inform from knowledge and experience and encourage dialogue among ourselves.
Themes such as sexuality, faith, love, discrimination, prejudice are discussed at the students' level, with the educators allowing everyone to have their say.
There are over fifty volunteers who go to high schools, MBOs, colleges, universities and even elementary schools. The educational goals are to develop and strengthen lhbtqia+emancipation and promote a safe school -or training climate in education.
The lesson includes a discussion, the educator's own coming-out story and various game formats such as "recognize the straight man" or the "anonymous question game."
The lectures are very diverse. Sometimes I am at a practical school, other times I am in front of a class of future teachers, and the next time I am talking to students at a grammar school. The conversations vary greatly in content. For me, this makes lecturing fun and varied.
Natascha (36)
Some 600 information sessions are held each year in the Amsterdam region. Schools have been required to do "something" about homosexuality education since 2012. Our volunteers are professionally prepared, supervised and trained.
I educate because I believe that homophobia stems from ignorance. In this way I hope to contribute to a better world by showing that the difference between lgbtqi+ and straight is not that big. Educating not only gives me a sense of significance, I also get a special insight into the different cultures of Amsterdam and its surroundings, plus a lot of great colleagues!
Nienke (21)
Does becoming an educator appeal to you? Would you like a Rainbow package for your school? Click the button to the right and contact us!
