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Pleasure positive communication matters because it can lead to positive experiences, satisfaction, and a sense of well-being. When communication is focused on pleasure and positive experiences, it can help to reduce stress, anxiety, and other negative emotions that can be associated with sexual health and relationships. This is exactly what the doctor ordered!

Pleasure positive communication matters because it can lead to positive experiences, satisfaction, and a sense of well-being

The Pleasure Principles are the cornerstone of Love Matters Kenya, which aims to provide young people with accurate, inclusive, and evidence-based SRHR information. Through pleasure positive principles namely talk sexy, rights first, embrace learning, be positive, and think universal, we have built trust and created a safe environment where individuals feel comfortable sharing their thoughts, feelings, and experiences without fear of judgment or shame.

Since December of 2012, the Love Matters Kenya platforms have been successful in promoting pleasure positive communication by providing a safe and non-judgmental space where young people can openly and honestly discuss sex and sexuality. By engaging with audiences through various digital platforms, Love Matters Kenya has been able grow to over 1.9 million young people across all digital media platforms.

the Love Matters Kenya platforms have been successful in promoting pleasure positive communication by providing a safe and non-judgmental space where young people can openly and honestly discuss sex and sexuality

Love Matters Kenya uses a data-driven approach to develop and implement content – in various formats, and engagement strategies, which helps to ensure that the content is contextually and culturally appropriate and addresses the needs, gaps and interests of young audience.

Through the Pleasure Principles, they continue to record significant increase in engagement to an average of 12 million a month. A key contributor to this is inclusive, respectful and rights-based communication; an aspect that have enhanced engagement with young people. A second contributor is focus on safe yet pleasurable sex and sexuality which helps young people make informed decisions that positively impact their lives. To further stay aligned to the pleasure principles, they commit to keep track of sexual-health indicators which will, in turn, influence progress.

Our commitments to the Pleasure Principles are:

  1. Ensure that our audiences are told about safer sex being pleasurable and relaxing sex
  2. Include pleasure-based sexual health indicators in our work
    3. Conduct research that leads to evidence around pleasure-based sexual health
  3. Ensure our communication materials, marketing strategies, campaigns are inclusive, respectful, and rights-based

See? Pleasure matters!

By Terry Gachie, Love Matter Kenya Country Director