Celebrating Spanish Heritage Month: Consent Education in Spanish & Sexual Assault Prevention for Latinx Youth

by Ella O’Neal

Expanding Consent Education to Spanish-Speaking Students

When Mariana first heard about SafeBAE’s Peer Educator Training, she knew it was something her community desperately needed. “During my junior year, a case of sexual harassment at a local private school shook our community, yet nothing changed. Even in a school with top-tier education, students felt unsafe,” she recalled. This lack of action opened her eyes to a deeper issue: the absence of comprehensive consent education. “I realized how the lack of consent and sexual violence education was a problem deeply rooted in our society,” she shared. Determined to make a difference, Mariana took on the project of translating the training into Spanish, ensuring that Spanish-speaking students have access to this critical resource.

To mark the importance of this initiative, SafeBAE is proud to launch the Spanish version of our Peer Educator Training during Spanish Heritage Month. Celebrated from September 15th to October 15th, Spanish Heritage Month honors the contributions and influence of Hispanic and Latinx communities to the culture, history, and achievements of the United States. Originally established in 1968 as Hispanic Heritage Week, it was expanded to a month-long celebration in 1988 to encompass the independence anniversaries of several Latin American countries, including Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua. This period also includes Mexico’s Independence Day on September 16th and Chile’s on September 18th.

By launching this essential expansion during Spanish Heritage Month, we are not only honoring the rich cultural heritage of the Spanish-speaking community but also highlighting the need for accessible and relevant consent education. Led by Mariana Hernández, a dedicated SafeBAE youth board member, this project ensures that more young people can access the tools they need to prevent sexual violence and promote healthy relationships.

About Mariana Hernández

Mariana Hernández is an 18-year-old student from Colombia, currently majoring in Finance at the University of Notre Dame. Born in Colombia and raised in Costa Rica, Mariana’s journey has been shaped by her family’s close-knit bond and the values instilled in her during her upbringing. “I attended a small private school my whole life, and I’ve always been very close to my family, especially my sisters,” she shared. Her passion for advocacy and education took root early on, but it wasn’t until she encountered SafeBAE that she found a platform to amplify her voice.

“It was after taking the Peer Educator Training myself that I fully realized the transformational power this type of education had in changing mindsets and building safer school environments,” she explained. For Mariana, making consent education accessible in Spanish was more than just a project; it was a mission to ensure that no student, regardless of language or background, would ever feel unprotected or unheard.

She faced significant challenges along the way, particularly in adapting SafeBAE’s content to reflect the cultural and legal nuances of Spanish-speaking communities. “There are no policies like Title IX in many Spanish-speaking countries, and since we’re talking about multiple countries, it was challenging to research and outline the policies for each one,” she said. Despite these hurdles, Mariana remained focused on her goal, providing additional resources and focusing on modules like the BAE Code to inspire positive behavioral change.

Beyond her advocacy work, Mariana is a creative entrepreneur who loves to crochet. She even runs a small business selling her handmade creations. Balancing her studies, activism, and business is no small feat, but Mariana’s commitment to making a difference is unwavering. Her dedication to creating change is not only inspiring but also a testament to the power of young people to lead and impact their communities. Her work with SafeBAE is not only a testament to her dedication but also a beacon of hope for countless young people who now have access to this crucial training in their own language.

Expanding Access to Consent Education

In the United States, over 13 million students speak Spanish at home, making it crucial to provide educational resources in their native language. According to the U.S. Department of Education, nearly 30% of public school students come from Hispanic or Latinx backgrounds, yet access to culturally relevant educational materials remains limited. SafeBAE’s expansion into Spanish-language resources, including consent education and Latinx sexual assault prevention, is a critical step in reaching this large and underserved audience. By offering our Peer Educator Training in Spanish, we’re ensuring that these students have the same opportunities to learn about consent, healthy relationships, and bystander intervention as their English-speaking peers.

But expanding access to consent education in Spanish-speaking communities goes beyond just translation; it’s about addressing systemic gaps in education and policy. In many Spanish-speaking countries, comprehensive protections against gender-based violence, like those provided by Title IX in the U.S., are either non-existent or poorly enforced. The United Nations reports that in Latin America, 1 in 3 women experience physical or sexual violence, often starting in adolescence. This creates a pressing need for educational resources that empower students to understand their rights, set personal boundaries, and advocate for their safety. Programs like SafeBAE’s Peer Educator Training are not only about prevention but also about equipping young people with the knowledge and skills to challenge harmful norms and advocate for change in their communities.

Special Offer: Free Spanish Consent Undies!

To celebrate the launch of the Spanish Peer Educator Training, we’ve partnered with Assk First to release a new Spanish Collection of consent-themed undies. This unique initiative not only incentivizes participation but also amplifies the message of consent in a fun and impactful way. The collection features designs created in collaboration with Latinx youth, including translations provided by Mariana Hernández herself. Each pack from the spanish collection comes with 6 undies, all featuring consent phrases in Spanish, and the best part is that all purchases through AsskFirst.shop go directly to SafeBAE to continue funding this unique and nuanced work.

Get Involved and Support the Mission

The release of the Spanish Peer Educator Training and the Assk First Spanish Collection are key milestones in SafeBAE’s mission to make consent education accessible to everyone. Together, we can continue to empower young people with the knowledge and tools they need to build a culture of respect and safety.

SafeBAE’s expansion into Spanish-language resources is made possible through the generous support of our community. Your donations help us continue to provide free, accessible education to all students.

• Donate to SafeBAE: Your contributions allow us to expand our resources and reach more young people across the country.
• Enroll in the Spanish Peer Educator Training: Take the training today and be one of the first to receive free Spanish consent undies!
• Shop Assk First: Support SafeBAE by purchasing from the new Spanish Collection, with 100% of proceeds going directly to our programs.

Join us in this important work by getting involved today.