Adolescent Boys Programme

Government policies and programs have largely ignored adolescents in HIV prevention. Knowledge among adolescents regarding safer sex and condoms is inadequate and inconsistent. The information that is conveyed to the youth is tied to societal attitudes on sexual desire and behavior. These attitudes in many cases have little correspondence to prevailing sexual behavior. Knowledge on sexual behavior is generally believed to not be required until after marriage. There is great reluctance to acknowledge that unmarried people have sex. However, adolescents themselves express a strong need to gain more information on issues of sexuality and sexual behavior. In the adolescent years the young people create their conceptions of the world and relations, and it is therefore the most rewarding age group to discuss gender issues with. To open a dialogue with adolescent boys and girls has proven very satisfying on gender sensitizing issues.

Adolescent Girls Programme

Every year SARTHI has given sex education and gender sensitization to the local youth. About 10000 youth has so far participated the program, both school going and non-school going. It is easier to reach the school-going youth, as the school is a perfect forum at where to conduct education. The non school-going youth is harder to bring together. To ensure that all non school-going youth participates in activities, SARHTI motivates their mother in the SHGs, and also contacts the local sport teams etc, where many can be found. By mapping down exactly how many non school-going youth there are in each village, SARTHI can be relatively certain that all participate.

Adolescent Mela

Topics discussed in the program has so far been sexuality, relationships and gender equality, and also health, including physical and mental problems and concerns, dowry and the subsequent social effects, the legal rights of women etc. As a consequence the boys are now helping their mothers and sisters in household work to a greater extent and there has been a reduced harassment on girls. The youth feels that sex education is an important subject and that it should be reached out to each and every young person. SARTHI has informed the youth about contraceptive methods and the necessity of it. Now they take it very serious and are well aware about the use and result. They asked many questions related to sex education and they got proper answers, so now they are discussing these questions with other people, which will help them to aware more people.