Strengthening Adolescent Girls with Sex Education

Kolkata Sanved conducted SRHR sessions with 74 adolescent girls between the age group of 12 years to 18 years in three different locations of West Bengal in collaboration with three partner organizations. All the participants belonged to the economically deprived community of remote rural areas of South 24 Parganas, Howrah and Birbhum. In each case the partner organization assessed that the youngsters often faced various types of gender-based violence and were prone to become prey due to lack of knowledge about basic rights, especially sexual reproductive health rights. As sexual and reproductive health is not only about physical wellbeing – it includes the right to healthy and respectful relationships, health services that are inclusive, safe and appropriate, access to accurate information, effective and affordable methods of contraception and access to timely support. 

SRHR sessions included Body awareness and Body mapping, Gender stressors at present and across lifespan, Menstrual cycle and reproduction, HIV, navigating safe relationships and ending with an understanding of safe space and relationships. The participants were able to identify the gender-based stereotypes and restrictions they face at home for being girls. The concept of consent; family planning methods was discussed with the group to make them aware about their sexual reproductive health rights. 

Post session  most of the participants were able to open up and share how they felt about the activity. They were able to focus on the cognitive based group activities including brainstorming on different topics. Few participants were able to represent the gender stressor across the lifespan and shared their bitter experience with the peer group. It was observed that the participants increased their peer group bonding through their group. They showed reduced hesitation during movements and were eager towards learning facts about the human body and functioning of reproductive system. Participants had several myths attached regarding menstruation, HIV and other Sexually transmitted diseases and towards the end of the session these myths were resolved and they were aware about the scientific facts through the creative activity based DMT sessions.

Through the sharing it was observed that they were able to identify the concept of safe space and the risks of unsafe relationships and gender-based violence.