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The adolescent sexual health project
supported by a Ford Foundation grant was born out of concern
that in India majority of infections occur in the 15-25 age
group and that the age of infection has been consistently
dropping. This programme aims to empower adolescents and young
adults with knowledge on HIV to help them understand and better
respond to the pandemic.
Adolescents and young adults are often challenged as to what
constitutes responsible sexual behavior - abstinence, mutual
fidelity or use of condoms. Under this project, an interactive
small group workshop gives participants an opportunity to
explore their own sexuality, assists them to understand adolescence
and growing up, clarifies their myths and misconceptions through
games such as "Safe Continuum" and other participatory methods.
These workshops also serve as a forum to express views about
gender sensitivity and to learn to appreciate diverse points
of view. The discussions also cover a wide range of topics
that include drug abuse and the role of inhibition lowering
substances in sexual behaviors.
The adolescent sexual health project receives very wide support
from the beneficiary community. The youth peer educators are
a source of inspiration and learning.
During the early years, active participation of peer educators
gave rise to cultural events, awareness rallies, and candle
light marches. This project is also ably supported by the
walk-in clinic where voluntary counselling and testing facilities
are accessible in a non-coercive and non-discriminatory environment.
The YRG CARE team of educators provides adolescents and youth
programmes on Sex and Sexuality which includes anatomy and
physiology of males and females, basic factors on HIV, prevention
and sensitization, clarification of myths and misconceptions,
care and support, values and attitudes especially promotion
of positive attitudes towards people living with HIV/AIDS
and their families. These sessions are conducted through the
effective use of slide presentations, discussions within small
groups, peer education, training of trainers, community programmes.
Such programs address both school going youth and non school
going youth at industries and youth associations.
Ford Foundation, New Delhi has been supporting these endeavours
in Chennai and Tamil Nadu since infancy.
YRG CARE worked with a number of NGOs in South India as part
of previous Ford Foundation grants which had a limited objective
of conducting a training of trainers programme for NGO staff
members. Thus it was decided to forge a network of organizations
from among these NGOs, as well as from a number of other NGOs
that YRG CARE was acquainted with through other projects.
Accordingly through an exchange of communication and ideas
YRG CARE now networks with eleven organizations from various
parts of South India. YRG CARE and these eleven organizations
are collectively called as PARTNERS.
Ford Foundation have supported this project on "Adolescent
Sexuality and HIV Learning Resources Center for Development
of NGO Capacity in Southern India" over the period of three
years (1999-2002). |
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