Strengthening Adolescent Girls with Sex Education

Since the last quarter, Kolkata Sanved has focused on the strategic integration of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) across all its programmes and awareness campaigns as outlined in the previous report. Kolkata Sanved has moved towards planning to practice by ensuring that SRHR is meaningfully embedded within the ongoing program activities, rather than being implemented as a separate or standalone program.

SRHR has integrated into the sessions of regular programs on mental health and wellbeing, leadership development and empowerment, and trauma healing and recovery. DMT practitioners introduced SRHR topics in a need-based and age-appropriate manner, depending on participants’ readiness. The focus primally remained on creating safe, respectful and non-judgmental spaces where participants could ask questions and reflect on their own experiences without hesitation.

Key SRHR topics covered during the sessions included understanding sex and gender, gender identity, and everyday gender-based stressors. Participants also learned basic information about their body parts, menstrual cycle and reproduction, body hygiene, safe spaces, consent, and basic awareness of sexually transmitted infections (STIs). These topics were discussed at a foundational level and always connected with mental wellbeing, self-care, communication, and decision-making skills.

The integrated approach reached a total of 878 participants across multiple programs. 35 participants were engaged through the Healing and Wellbeing program. The Sampoornata Wellbeing Club reached 726 participants, while 37 participants were engaged through Trauma Recovery program. Additionally, 80 participants were reached through the DMTLDA (Dance Movement Therapy Leadership Development Academy) program. This wide reach demonstrates that the integrated SRHR approach is scalable and flexible and can be adapted across different programs and contexts.

A key focus of this strategy was also capacity building of DMT practitioners. A comprehensive sexuality education training  was conducted for the required DMT practitioners in Maharashtra. This training supported the practitioners to deepen their understanding of SRHR, gender and wellbeing and it helped them to integrate these themes within the child care institutions. This step was important to ensure quality and consistency of SRHR integration across geographies.

Several early changes were observed through this strategy. Participants showed increased comfort in talking about their bodies, emotions and gender-related experiences. Many participants were better able to link body awareness with mental wellbeing and self-care practices. Practitioners also noted increased participation during group discussions.

In the next phase, Kolkata Sanved will continue strengthening practitioner capacity, gradually deepen SRHR engagement for groups that are ready and further strengthen youth leadership and peer-learning spaces.

Overall, by embedding SRHR within existing programmes, Kolkata Sanved continues to build a holistic and sustainable approach towards empowerment, wellbeing and gender equity.