Comprehensive sexuality education – India (MSAI)

Name of the activity: Comprehensive sexuality education

Country/NMO: India (MSAI)

Program: Comprehensive Sexuality Education

Contact information: [email protected]

Type of the activity: Education

General description:

the local officers were provided with the above mentioned online training. they went on to provide CSE to school students. The campaign was divided into 2 subgroups –
1st group aimed at students in the age group of 11-13 years of age – topics included were good touch & bad touch, pubertal changes and intercourse
2nd group aimed at students in the age group of 14-15 years of age – topics included – pubertal changes, anatomy, intercourse, consent, contraception and sexuality.
the impact was evaluated by a pre- and post event questionnaire provided to the students

Focus area:

Peer Education with adolescents and young people on a variety of topics pertaining to Sexual Health

Problem statement:

CSE in India is non-existent. it not a part of the usual school curriculum and most parents are not qualified to provide the same to our children. As a result, there is a lot of fear and taboo around these topics among young adults and nobody to guide them through stressful periods of adolescence and puberty. Recently, a study commissioned by the Indian Ministry of Women and Children Development and carried out by UNICEF and Prayas, a NGO, interviewed 12,247 children and 2324 young adults in 13 Indian states. The study revealed that a shocking 53% of children between the ages of 5 and 12 have been sexually abused.
Most often this abuse was perpetrated by parents, legal guardians or close members of the family. Further, the study disturbingly notes that more than half of all cases of sexual abuse and rape go unreported.
Educating children about their bodies and sexuality in an age-appropriate way can go a long way in helping them understand the difference between sexual and non-sexual touch. Such education can help children escape the guilt and fear that often accompanies sexual abuse and empower them to report previous or ongoing abuse.

Target groups and beneficiaries:

school students in the age group of 11-15 years.

Objectives and indicators of success:

* Enabling medical students to become effective CSE trainers – online training course along with their responses recorded and evaluated by an NGO that provides training for the same and a certificate provided to those who successfully completed the course over a span of 2 weeks.
* Provide workshops for school students and provide them with information about sex and related topics, making the students aware of the issues of child sexual abuse, rape, consent, pubertal changes and intercourse – Indicator – pre and post event reports.

Methodology:

provide local officers with TARSHI’s basics and beyond online course on sexuality and sexual and reproductive health and rights
further the local officers conduct CSE campaigns in schools

Plans for evaluation:

pre and post event reports