Senses & Soul

A report on sexuality education in India by the ‘Youth Coalition for Sexual and Reproductive Rights’, an international organization noted that, ‘Most schools, private and public affiliated state boards of secondary education don’t have any form of sexuality education in their curriculum’.

Public discussion of sex and sexuality is widely considered taboo in Indian society. Even if there are certain attempts of initiating conversations, most of these do not cross the line beyond menstrual hygiene to incorporate other topics such as violence, abuse, gender, sexuality or consent. This acts as a barrier to the delivery of adequate and effective sexual education to Indian adolescents.

In 2005, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) issued a circular, introducing a program called, ‘The Adolescence Reproductive and Sexual Health Education’ (ASRH project). The central government released it in 2006. Though it was incorporated by a few states, however, they adopted the project with variations according to what they subjectively considered to be important. In 2007, The Government of India initiated ‘Adolescent Education Program’ (AEP) in collaboration with National AIDS Control Organization (NACO) and United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).

Although these programmes cover issues such as body image, violence and abuse, gender and sexuality and STIs, substance abuse, especially drugs and other unhealthy attitudes, the notion of ‘consent’ and ‘attraction’ was neither introduced nor incorporated. Moreover, the program was not implemented and was banned by 12 Indian state governments as the program’s content was considered to be ‘inappropriate’.

The ‘Senses & Soul’ project designed by Sakshi is a comprehensive value-based education programme that focuses on Health and Hygiene, Gender Equality and Responsible Sexuality amongst high school students, helping them build life skills and increase responsible behaviour based on human rights principles.

1. To educate and make aware individuals without any associated stigma or silence around the topic of sexuality.

2. To compile and disseminate comprehensive sexuality education that is appropriate to students in schools according to their age, developmental level, and cultural background.

The initial ‘Senses and Soul’ programme was implemented in 2005 for 600 girls in New Delhi with limited access to their basic rights. As part of the programme, Sakshi published the highly acclaimed two-volume handbook entitled ‘Senses & Soul- A Workshop on Sexuality’. This rich resource pack is a compilation of experiential exercises, concepts, and reflections for the express purpose of designing and delivering responsible sexuality workshops by trainers, counsellors, teachers and parents. Additionally, it is supported by six one minute films and a facilitator’s guide on how to use these films.

Not only did these workshops provide participants with an invaluable space to explore and expand their sexual horizons, but it was also instrumental in creative expression. Through the interplay of workshop moments juxtaposed with dance steps, creative documentation explored sexuality in its multiple colours. It explores masculinity and femininity not as mutually exclusive realities but as an integrated truth. The workshops led to a definite shift in attitudes towards issues of sexuality amongst students, teachers and parents. An increasing level of willingness and comfort in creating a safe sexual space for their children was observed. The workshop journeyed towards a redefinition of tradition, culture, morality and religion based on empowering concepts of freedom and choices for women in defining their sexual identity.

Another component of the programme was the documentary film ‘Mirror Mirror on the Wall… Who am I After All?’, which premiered at the International Festival on Gender & Sexuality organised by Public Service Broadcasting Trust (PSBT) at the India Habitat Centre in New Delhi. Broadcast on Doordarshan, the 29-minute film is a creative exploration and segregation of self and sexuality as experienced by the students and teachers of an all-girls school, pursuing the pathway to sexual awareness.

The programme has evolved over the years and continues to spread its wings across educational institutions in rural and urban geographies.