Seeds of Awareness: Comprehensive Sexuality Education

Seeds of Awareness (

Non-governmental organization (NGO)

)

#SDGAction57587

Description

Sexuality is a central aspect of being human and it manifests in the choices they make. Ignorance about how one learns and what one learns during gender socialisation tends to lead to uninformed choices in the context of sexuality. Usually, it is assumed that if young people have scientific knowledge about human physiology and reproductive processes (sex education), they will be able to make informed choices around sexuality. Sex education is necessary for understanding sexuality related choices but not sufficient. Psychological and social factors influence the choice making process as well. Often, sex educators advocate certain choices/behaviours as liberal/progressive without necessarily understanding the context of the respective individuals. The educators’ beliefs and assumptions tend to become their biases. Inadvertently, they may add to the problem (of mixed messaging) rather than become a part of the solution. Choices are likely to be informed when one is able to appreciate diverse perspectives, motivations and trade offs while making choices. Individuals are likely to expand their perspectives and reflect about the contextual impact of mixed messaging, in safe and non-judgemental spaces. Over the years, beliefs often become deeply internalised in human beings. It likely makes it harder to expand their perspectives. Developmentally, adolescents and young adults seem to be at an ideal age to get enabled to understand sexuality related topics. Currently, India’s youth population is one of the highest in the world. A capacity of trained facilitators should be built in order to facilitate non-agenda laden processes which can enable adolescents to reflect and be informed. SOA has developed a certificate program for building the capacity of facilitators called Comprehensive Sexuality Education and Effective Facilitation (CSEEF). CSEEF aims to train facilitators to facilitate Comprehensive Sexuality Education programs for adolescents (CSEA) in schools and communities. The participants of CSEEF program will be able to facilitate CSE programs with groups of adolescents by: Creating a safe space for diverse perspectives (in the context of gender and sexuality) to emerge. Contextualising various messages in order to expand perspectives. Creating conditions for enabling reflection. If SOA’s programs get certified by the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Sustainable Development, it will enable us to increase our scale and reach a larger number of youth in various states of India. Implementation methodologies: Follow-up mechanisms for CSEEF programs include supporting participants through group and one-on-one conversations, mock and supervision sessions. Follow up mechanisms for CSEA program includes one on one conversation, reporting child sexual abuse cases to appropriate authorities.

Expected Impact

Being able to acknowledge one’s biases, enables individuals to connect with themselves and others, promoting overall well-being (SDG3: 3.7). Through the CSEEF program facilitators learn how to be context sensitive which makes the learning environment effective (SDG 4a). The program increases the supply of facilitators in the context of ensuring equitable and quality education and opportunities for all (SDG 4c). A sexuality education program that is context sensitive acknowledges that quality education involves creating inclusive and equitable learning opportunities for all irrespective of their gender and sexual orientation (SDG 4 and 5). Programs that create awareness for understanding diverse perspectives tend to make individuals aware of their sexual and reproductive health and rights (SDG 5.6) while being mindful of others’ rights as well.

Partners

Teach for India schools, Mumbai Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai Kolkata Sanved, Kolkata Rasbihari international school, Nashik

Additional information

Phoga Munni short video clips https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLrOf9hmCCrGTQOEPAEAq2BcyRpFgjpbKo MYS-information https://seedsofawareness.in/MYS_INFORMATION.pdf

SDGS & Targets

Goal 3

Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages

3.1

By 2030, reduce the global maternal mortality ratio to less than 70 per 100,000 live births

3.1.1

Maternal mortality ratio

3.1.2

Proportion of births attended by skilled health personnel

3.2

By 2030, end preventable deaths of newborns and children under 5 years of age, with all countries aiming to reduce neonatal mortality to at least as low as 12 per 1,000 live births and under-5 mortality to at least as low as 25 per 1,000 live births

3.2.1

Under-five mortality rate

3.2.2

Neonatal mortality rate

3.3

By 2030, end the epidemics of AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria and neglected tropical diseases and combat hepatitis, water-borne diseases and other communicable diseases

3.3.1

Number of new HIV infections per 1,000 uninfected population, by sex, age and key populations

3.3.2

Tuberculosis incidence per 100,000 population

3.3.3

Malaria incidence per 1,000 population

3.3.4

Hepatitis B incidence per 100,000 population

3.3.5

Number of people requiring interventions against neglected tropical diseases

3.4

By 2030, reduce by one third premature mortality from non-communicable diseases through prevention and treatment and promote mental health and well-being

3.4.1

Mortality rate attributed to cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes or chronic respiratory disease

3.4.2

Suicide mortality rate

3.5

Strengthen the prevention and treatment of substance abuse, including narcotic drug abuse and harmful use of alcohol

3.5.1

Coverage of treatment interventions (pharmacological, psychosocial and rehabilitation and aftercare services) for substance use disorders

3.5.2

Alcohol per capita consumption (aged 15 years and older) within a calendar year in litres of pure alcohol

3.6

By 2020, halve the number of global deaths and injuries from road traffic accidents

3.6.1

Death rate due to road traffic injuries

3.7

By 2030, ensure universal access to sexual and reproductive health-care services, including for family planning, information and education, and the integration of reproductive health into national strategies and programmes

3.7.1

Proportion of women of reproductive age (aged 15-49 years) who have their need for family planning satisfied with modern methods

3.7.2

Adolescent birth rate (aged 10-14 years; aged 15-19 years) per 1,000 women in that age group

3.8

Achieve universal health coverage, including financial risk protection, access to quality essential health-care services and access to safe, effective, quality and affordable essential medicines and vaccines for all

3.8.1

Coverage of essential health services

3.8.2

Proportion of population with large household expenditures on health as a share of total household expenditure or income

3.9

By 2030, substantially reduce the number of deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals and air, water and soil pollution and contamination

3.9.1

Mortality rate attributed to household and ambient air pollution

3.9.2

Mortality rate attributed to unsafe water, unsafe sanitation and lack of hygiene (exposure to unsafe Water, Sanitation and Hygiene for All (WASH) services)

3.9.3

Mortality rate attributed to unintentional poisoning

3.a

Strengthen the implementation of the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control in all countries, as appropriate

3.a.1

Age-standardized prevalence of current tobacco use among persons aged 15 years and older

3.b

Support the research and development of vaccines and medicines for the communicable and non-communicable diseases that primarily affect developing countries, provide access to affordable essential medicines and vaccines, in accordance with the Doha Declaration on the TRIPS Agreement and Public Health, which affirms the right of developing countries to use to the full the provisions in the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights regarding flexibilities to protect public health, and, in particular, provide access to medicines for all

3.b.1

Proportion of the target population covered by all vaccines included in their national programme

3.b.2

Total net official development assistance to medical research and basic health sectors

3.b.3

Proportion of health facilities that have a core set of relevant essential medicines available and affordable on a sustainable basis

3.c

Substantially increase health financing and the recruitment, development, training and retention of the health workforce in developing countries, especially in least developed countries and small island developing States

3.c.1

Health worker density and distribution

3.d

Strengthen the capacity of all countries, in particular developing countries, for early warning, risk reduction and management of national and global health risks

3.d.1

International Health Regulations (IHR) capacity and health emergency preparedness

3.d.2

Percentage of bloodstream infections due to selected antimicrobial-resistant organisms

Goal 4

Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all

4.1

By 2030, ensure that all girls and boys complete free, equitable and quality primary and secondary education leading to relevant and effective learning outcomes

4.1.1

Proportion of children and young people (a) in grades 2/3; (b) at the end of primary; and (c) at the end of lower secondary achieving at least a minimum proficiency level in (i) reading and (ii) mathematics, by sex

4.1.2

Completion rate (primary education, lower secondary education, upper secondary education)

4.2

By 2030, ensure that all girls and boys have access to quality early childhood development, care and pre-primary education so that they are ready for primary education

4.2.1

Proportion of children aged 24–59 months who are developmentally on track in health, learning and psychosocial well-being, by sex

4.2.2

Participation rate in organized learning (one year before the official primary entry age), by sex

4.3

By 2030, ensure equal access for all women and men to affordable and quality technical, vocational and tertiary education, including university

4.3.1

Participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal education and training in the previous 12 months, by sex

4.4

By 2030, substantially increase the number of youth and adults who have relevant skills, including technical and vocational skills, for employment, decent jobs and entrepreneurship

4.4.1

Proportion of youth and adults with information and communications technology (ICT) skills, by type of skill

4.5

By 2030, eliminate gender disparities in education and ensure equal access to all levels of education and vocational training for the vulnerable, including persons with disabilities, indigenous peoples and children in vulnerable situations

4.5.1

Parity indices (female/male, rural/urban, bottom/top wealth quintile and others such as disability status, indigenous peoples and conflict-affected, as data become available) for all education indicators on this list that can be disaggregated

4.6

By 2030, ensure that all youth and a substantial proportion of adults, both men and women, achieve literacy and numeracy

4.6.1

Proportion of population in a given age group achieving at least a fixed level of proficiency in functional (a) literacy and (b) numeracy skills, by sex

4.7

By 2030, ensure that all learners acquire the knowledge and skills needed to promote sustainable development, including, among others, through education for sustainable development and sustainable lifestyles, human rights, gender equality, promotion of a culture of peace and non-violence, global citizenship and appreciation of cultural diversity and of culture’s contribution to sustainable development

4.7.1

Extent to which (i) global citizenship education and (ii) education for sustainable development are mainstreamed in (a) national education policies; (b) curricula; (c) teacher education and (d) student assessment

4.a

Build and upgrade education facilities that are child, disability and gender sensitive and provide safe, non-violent, inclusive and effective learning environments for all

4.a.1

Proportion of schools offering basic services, by type of service

4.b

By 2020, substantially expand globally the number of scholarships available to developing countries, in particular least developed countries, small island developing States and African countries, for enrolment in higher education, including vocational training and information and communications technology, technical, engineering and scientific programmes, in developed countries and other developing countries

4.b.1

Volume of official development assistance flows for scholarships by sector and type of study

4.c

By 2030, substantially increase the supply of qualified teachers, including through international cooperation for teacher training in developing countries, especially least developed countries and small island developing States

4.c.1

Proportion of teachers with the minimum required qualifications, by education level

Goal 5

Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls

5.1

End all forms of discrimination against all women and girls everywhere

5.1.1

Whether or not legal frameworks are in place to promote, enforce and monitor equality and non‑discrimination on the basis of sex

5.2

Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in the public and private spheres, including trafficking and sexual and other types of exploitation

5.2.1

Proportion of ever-partnered women and girls aged 15 years and older subjected to physical, sexual or psychological violence by a current or former intimate partner in the previous 12 months, by form of violence and by age

5.2.2

Proportion of women and girls aged 15 years and older subjected to sexual violence by persons other than an intimate partner in the previous 12 months, by age and place of occurrence

5.3

Eliminate all harmful practices, such as child, early and forced marriage and female genital mutilation

5.3.1

Proportion of women aged 20-24 years who were married or in a union before age 15 and before age 18

5.3.2

Proportion of girls and women aged 15-49 years who have undergone female genital mutilation/cutting, by age

5.4

Recognize and value unpaid care and domestic work through the provision of public services, infrastructure and social protection policies and the promotion of shared responsibility within the household and the family as nationally appropriate

5.4.1

Proportion of time spent on unpaid domestic and care work, by sex, age and location

5.5

Ensure women’s full and effective participation and equal opportunities for leadership at all levels of decision-making in political, economic and public life

5.5.1

Proportion of seats held by women in (a) national parliaments and (b) local governments

5.5.2

Proportion of women in managerial positions

5.6

Ensure universal access to sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights as agreed in accordance with the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development and the Beijing Platform for Action and the outcome documents of their review conferences

5.6.1

Proportion of women aged 15-49 years who make their own informed decisions regarding sexual relations, contraceptive use and reproductive health care

5.6.2

Number of countries with laws and regulations that guarantee full and equal access to women and men aged 15 years and older to sexual and reproductive health care, information and education

5.a

Undertake reforms to give women equal rights to economic resources, as well as access to ownership and control over land and other forms of property, financial services, inheritance and natural resources, in accordance with national laws

5.a.1

(a) Proportion of total agricultural population with ownership or secure rights over agricultural land, by sex; and (b) share of women among owners or rights-bearers of agricultural land, by type of tenure

5.a.2

Proportion of countries where the legal framework (including customary law) guarantees women’s equal rights to land ownership and/or control

5.b

Enhance the use of enabling technology, in particular information and communications technology, to promote the empowerment of women

5.b.1

Proportion of individuals who own a mobile telephone, by sex

5.c

Adopt and strengthen sound policies and enforceable legislation for the promotion of gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls at all levels

5.c.1

Proportion of countries with systems to track and make public allocations for gender equality and women’s empowerment

SDG 14 targets covered

Name	Description

Deliverables & Timeline

31 December, 2030

Training 100 facilitators for imparting comprehensive sexuality education to adolescents.

Resources mobilized

Staff / Technical expertise

Experienced and qualified experts on gender, sexuality and facilitation skill

Partnership Progress

No progress reports have been submitted. Please sign in and click here to submit one.

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Feedback

Action Network

Timeline

N/A

Entity

Seeds of Awareness

SDGs

3 4 5

Region

Asia and Pacific

Other beneficiaries

Schools: Teach for India (15+ Mumbai Schools), Oberoi International School, DY Patil School, Hill Spring International School, Bombay International School, Rasbihari International School, Nasik. NGOs: Antarang, Muktangan, Akanksha, SNEHA, Saathi, Bal Jeevan, Catalyst for Social Action (Pune, Indore and Ujjain), Naandi Foundation, 17000 ft Foundation Trainer

More information

https://seedsofawareness.in/index.php

Countries

India

Contact Information

Shalaka, Managing director of Seeds of Awareness

info@seedsofawareness.edu.in