PROJECT PAILA: COMPREHENSIVE SEXUALITY EDUCATION (CSE)

Nepal Health Corps – NGMC (2022-23)

“Empowering our students to make better choices for a better future”

Background

Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) gives young people accurate, age-appropriate information about sexuality and their sexual and reproductive health, which is critical for their health and survival.

CSE is a joint program by UNESCO, UNFPA, UN Women, UNAIDS and WHO. It encourages youth, advocates for their health, well-being and dignity by providing them with a necessary toolkit of knowledge, attitudes and skills. It aims to address the much overlooked and rapidly evolving concepts of adolescent sexual and reproductive health.

CSE addresses the key Sexual and Reproductive Health Problems in young individuals:- Puberty, Pregnancy, Access to contraception, Unsafe abortion, Violence including sexual and gender based violence, Marriage, Sexually transmitted diseases and others as suited to then circumstances. However, despite clear and compelling evidence for the benefits of high-quality, curriculum-based CSE, few children and young people receive preparation for their lives that empowers them to take control and make informed decisions about their sexuality and relationships freely and responsibly.

Project Paila was conceptualised as an informal program allowing in-depth conversation with young adolescents to better address the many queries and confusions that is commonly encountered in this age group. CSE program was discovered while looking into scientific guidelines that allowed an impartial and sensitive, age appropriate discussion that had been proven beneficial.

Rationale

Sexuality education equips children and young people with the needful of knowledge, skills, attitudes and values that help them to protect their health, develop respectful social and sexual relationships, make responsible choices and understand and protect the right of others. Evidence had consistently shown that high-quality sexuality education delivers positive health outcomes with lifelong impacts. Sexuality education also helps them prepare for and manage physical and emotional changes as they grow up, including during puberty and adolescence, while teaching them about respect, consent and where to go if they need help. This in turn reduces risks from violence, exploitation and abuse.

It has been evidenced that 18% or almost 1 in 5 girls worldwide, have experienced child sexual abuse. Although UN’s International guidance suggest CSE after the age of 5 in school based curricula too yet we are lagged at it. So to familiarize the young girls and women with necessary sexual education project paila was carried out.

Objectives

Project paila aimed to provide CSE by segregating the age groups and provide them with age-appropriate education and information. It includes:

Middle School (Ages 12-15): To address issues such as puberty, menstruation, good touch, bad touch, body image, sexual health education, stress management, substance abuse prevention, assumed gender roles and healthy relationships.
High School (Ages 15-18): To Provide comprehensive sex education, mental health support, and awareness about risks associated with risky behaviors like substance abuse and unprotected sex. Discuss the effects of early pregnancy and childbearing, explain contraceptive and abortion techniques, consequences of unsafe and recurrent abortion and promote responsible decision making.

Activities

Two sessions of Project Paila: Comprehensive Sexuality Education was conducted in the year of 2022-23.

1st Session

Date: 2079-05-17 (2nd September, 2022)
Venue: Tribhuwan Higher Secondary School, Kohalpur
Number of beneficiaries: Around 300 students of grade (8-10)

2nd Session

Date: 2080-01-21 (4th May, 2023)
Venue: Shree Gyanjyoti Higher Secondary School, Kohalpur
Number of beneficiaries: Around 200 students of grade (8-10)

A formal training session was conducted by a certified CSE trainer for NHC NGMC members prior to the school program. Groups were formed and brainstorming between all members was done to better understand the information to be conveyed to different age groups and apprehend possible queries from our participants.

A team of two tutors were formed and preassigned to a team of 20-30 students ahead of the program. Each team was encouraged to work out their entire program by themselves and given creative freedom regarding their content and demonstration.

Services provided by the Government of Nepal with regards to adolescent health program were incorporated to enable the participants to access these services when and if required.
(Distribution of free sanitary napkins, access to contraceptives, safe abortion, cyber security)
Graphic demonstrations, interactive games, Q/A session were done to make the session more effective and interesting.

Furthermore, screening for school health problems (dysmenorrhoea, PCOS) was done.

Here is the link to an article published by the core team members regarding the conceptualization and execution of Project Paila.

Outcomes and Results

Students were able to overcome the awkwardness and were found to be remarkable inquisitive and brimming with queries.
We were able to bust myths in a delicate yet affirmative manner.

Partnerships

Nepalgunj Medical College; Department of Community Medicine and Obstetrics/Gynaecology
Collaboration with expert CSE trainers from INGO Y-PEER.

The first session of the program was supported by Pagoda Int’l Pvt. Ltd. And Kohalpur Municipality ward no. 10.

Budget

Banner – Rs. 600 (For both session)
Stationaries (Copies, Pencil, Eraser, Charts, Color Pen) – Rs. 1500 (For both session)
Chocolates – Rs. 600 (For both session)
Transportation – Rs. 3000 (For both session)
Snacks – Rs. 2000 (For both session)

Total = Rs. 7700