Gender, sex and sexuality education
Developing gender and self-awareness curricula for children and adults to promote gender equality and build a more inclusive society.
Education
The Challenge
- Sexual abuse cases among children are rising significantly in Chennai, with an 80% increase in complaints from 2020 to 2021 under the POCSO Act.
- Over 58% of women in developing countries report facing online abuse and harassment.
- There is no unified, comprehensive strategy for sexuality education—existing efforts are fragmented and siloed.
- Current school curricula lack structured content on sex, sexuality, and gender identity, leaving students and teachers without proper tools or training.
- Teachers often struggle to address gender sensitivity, abuse prevention, and discrimination effectively due to a lack of proper sensitization.
- Community awareness on gender-based safety, bodily autonomy, and respectful interaction remains low, particularly among children and adolescents.
Our Approach
- Research-Based Development: Conducted historical and framework-based studies (e.g., UNESCO model) to identify gaps in sexuality education in Tamil Nadu.
- Partnered with the Gender and Policy Lab to carry out needs assessments in 20 government schools in Chennai.
- Curriculum & Content Creation: Developed an activity-based curriculum for children aged 7–11 focused on self-awareness, safety, and gender sensitivity.
- Designed teacher training modules on creating gender-safe campuses and addressing discrimination.
- Created an SRHR (Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights) awareness module for communities.
- Built customized modules for corporates and high school students tailored to their environment and needs.
- Workshops & Engagement: Organized workshops and seminars for teachers, students, and communities.
- Conducted foundational workshops at leading colleges like Ethiraj, SIET, and MOP Vaishnav.
- Certification & Advocacy: Launched certification programs for facilitators in sexuality education.
- Advocated for inclusive and affirmative education through sensitization and policy alignment.
- Pilot Implementation: Working towards launching a pilot curriculum in Chennai public schools as a scalable model.
Our Vision
- To normalize inclusive, age-appropriate education on gender, sex, and sexuality as a fundamental right.
- To empower children, youth, educators, and communities with the knowledge and tools to make informed, respectful, and safe choices.
- To create a city-wide model for comprehensive self-awareness and abuse-prevention education that can be replicated across India.
- To foster schools and institutions that are safe, inclusive, and affirming for all genders and identities.
Our Partners
- MOP Vaishnav College for Women
- Ethiraj College for Women
- SIET College
- Gender and Policy Lab (for needs assessment in government schools)
- LP4Y (Life Project 4 Youth)
- SCARF (Schizophrenia Research Foundation)
- SStraight Circles
- Nirangal
- Pudiyador
- Doctors, health advocates, community leaders, and educators from Chennai
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