Pilot Consent Education and SGBV Prevention Curriculum for Indian Youth

About our Initiative:

Imaara Survivor Support Foundation in collaboration with Sakshi Singh (Loud and Proud) aims to address the critical gap in consent education and Gender-Based Violence (GBV) prevention in India's educational system, focusing on a pilot program in Tamil Nadu. We propose to conduct targeted research on consent education and SGBV prevention strategies, tailored to the local context. The findings will be compiled into a curriculum for secondary schools and colleges in Tamil Nadu.

The curriculum will promote understanding of consent, recognize signs of GBV, and equip youth with tools to prevent and address such issues. We plan to implement this curriculum in 20 educational institutions in Tamil Nadu over a 9-month period, directly impacting youth mental health and well-being.

By educating young people about consent and GBV prevention, we aim to create safer environments, foster healthier relationships, and ultimately contribute to the overall well-being of India's youth.

The Problem:

The project addresses the lack of comprehensive consent education and GBV prevention strategies in Tamil Nadu's educational institutions. This gap contributes to high rates of GBV, misunderstanding of consent, and negative impacts on youth mental health and well-being. Many young people in Tamil Nadu lack the knowledge and tools to navigate consent in relationships, recognize signs of abuse, and seek help when needed. This problem perpetuates cycles of violence and negatively affects the overall development and well-being of youth.

The Solution:

Our solution is to develop a culturally-sensitive, age-appropriate curriculum on consent education and SGBV prevention based on targeted research in Tamil Nadu. This curriculum will be piloted in 20 selected schools and colleges in the city. We will also create training programs for educators and student leaders to effectively deliver this content. By providing comprehensive education and fostering open dialogue on these topics, we aim to empower youth with the knowledge and skills to build healthier relationships, recognize and prevent GBV, and promote a culture of respect and consent, directly contributing to improved mental health and well-being.

Population Addressed:

Our project primarily targets youth aged 6-22 in Tamil Nādu, encompassing students in schools and colleges. This demographic is at a critical stage of personal and social development, making them ideal early intervention recipients for consent education and SGBV prevention strategies. Additionally, our project will benefit educators and student leaders in the participating institutions who will be trained to deliver the curriculum. Indirectly, the families and communities of these students will benefit from the increased awareness and changed attitudes towards consent and SGBV prevention.

Beneficiaries:

Direct beneficiaries: We aim to reach approximately 10,000 students across 20 educational institutions in Tamil Nadu during the 9-month pilot phase of the project. Additionally, in order to make the project more sustainable we will directly train 100 educators and student leaders who will the point of contact for students once we have wrapped up the project in any given school

Indirect beneficiaries: We estimate that the project could indirectly impact up to 50,000 individuals, including family members of the students, other educators, and community members who will benefit from the ripple effect of increased awareness and changed attitudes towards consent and SGBV prevention.

Impact on Community:

Our proposal would lead to several concrete social improvements:

• Increased awareness and understanding of consent among youth in Tamil Nādu.
• Reduction in incidents of SGBV in participating educational settings
• Improved mental health and well-being of young people through safer and more respectful environments. 
• Enhanced communication skills and healthier relationships among youth
• Empowerment of young people to recognize and address SGBV. 
• Creation of a model curriculum that could be scaled to other regions in India

Initiative Sustainability:

1. Capacity building: We'll create a network of trained educators and student leaders who can continue delivering the content beyond the project timeline.
2. Digital resources: Development of online platforms and resources for ongoing access and updates.
3. Partnerships: Collaborations with local NGOs and educational institutions for continued support and implementation.
4. Monitoring and evaluation: Regular assessment of the program's impact to demonstrate its value and secure ongoing funding and support.
5. Scalability: The pilot program is designed to be easily scalable to other institutions and regions after the initial 9-month period.

Support from World Pulse Community:

We are reaching out to connect with individuals working in human rights, particularly in consent education, sex education, gender-based violence prevention and survivor support. We invite experts to join us in the research, planning, and curriculum development phase of our initiative. If you're interested, please contact us at or via WhatsApp at +91 784-592-0800. We look forward to connecting and collaborating with you!