Sexuality and SRHR

“What is the difference between gender, sex and sexuality?”

“I want to have a conversation on sex work with my participants; what information can I share?”

“How can I start conversations about pleasure and desire with women from grassroots organisations? ”

“ I am a trainer. What principles can I follow to address questions on sexual health and rights?”

Are you a service provider, trainer or practitioner in the social sector space who has similar questions? Are you a facilitator looking to strengthen your capacity to talk about sexuality, SRHR and its intersections with your participants?

Sexuality and Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) are central aspects of people’s lives, yet a gap exists in people’s access to accurate information and services regarding these matters. Due to the sensitive and taboo nature of the topic, there is confusion and/or silence around issues like consent, sexual and gender identities, contraception, violence and abuse, body image, disability and sexuality, gender norms and roles, etc. Such topics are often not included as a part of professional training courses or of sexuality education in schools.

TARSHI has been conducting training on sexuality and SRHR since 2003. TARSHI felt the need to conduct skill-based training to support individuals, activists and practitioners to translate concepts of sexuality and rights into practice.

WHAT DOES THE TRAINING OFFER?

Practical tips for facilitators

While we may have access to information on sexuality and SRHR, it often seems difficult to facilitate a conversation on these topics with a broader audience due to the stigma attached to them. TARSHI’s training addresses this gap by providing opportunities for participants to learn appropriate tools and techniques to take the knowledge on-ground. Adapted from TARSHI's ten-year-old Basics and Beyond training manual by a team of experts, our training provides suggestions on how to use the manual (depending on the facilitator’s goals and the level of understanding, experience and nature of work of the participants); how facilitators can select exercises from the modules that address issues relevant to the training groups’ needs; and how sessions from the modules can be tailored to specific needs.

Centering pleasure-affirming and rights-based perspective

“How are these approaches different?”. Common messaging on sexuality can be fear-based or attached to negative consequences. This perpetuates shame and stigma in the society. TARSHI believes in creating spaces where sexuality is talked about through a positive and pleasure-affirming perspective. A space where one can recognise their rights and have agency over their bodies and choices. In our training, we explore sexuality through a myriad of diverse emotions and desires beyond the realm of violence and abuse. It also equips learners to draw interconnections between sexuality and human rights principles for overall wellbeing. connecting sexuality to human rights makes for better health and improved well-being.

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Interactive methodology to unpack concepts

Sexuality and SRHR are complex and dynamic issues. These topics continually evolve and may be viewed diversely throughout personal and professional journeys and within various cultural contexts and times. Hence, our training is designed through a participatory approach where everyone is able to engage and discuss the information that is being shared with them. We provide contextual case studies and conduct interactive exercises and group activities to learn and unlearn- together! TARSHI creates a non-judgmental space for co-sharing and ensures that any personal information shared during the workshop remains confidential.

Wide range of topics covered

TARSHI believes in co-creating a Safe and Inclusive space for learning and unlearning. Our sexuality and SRHR training comprises an introduction to understanding sexuality and its links with reproductive health, sexual health and human rights; basics of gender, sexual identity, sex work issues, and sexual health information; tips and tools to deal with difficult participants/ issues; and, ideas for adapting the exercises for a specific audience. We are also happy to customise topics based on individual/ organisational requirements and bring in various lenses to understanding sexuality and health. Ex- Disability, Mental Health, Religion and so on.

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Resources

Here’s your chance to revisit your learnings in the future as we share resources like handouts, training manuals, and readings as part of our training. Along with our training, we provide a soft copy of Basics and Beyond: Manual for Trainer to each participant (extra cost applicable). The training has over 75 exercises comprising more than 70 hours of training time and is a valuable resource on sexuality and SRHR for individual trainers as well as organisations. We also offer TARSHI’s e-learning course, Basics and Beyond and Beyond and Basics, at a discounted price. The courses address concepts of sexuality and SRHR within the context of human rights. To learn more about the course, click here.

WHO IS THIS TRAINING FOR?

Any individual wanting to learn more about sexuality and SRHR
Any non-governmental organisation/ collective working in the field of gender and sexuality
Sexuality educators or practitioners working with adolescents or young people
Activists, academicians, medical students or professionals engaging with sexuality or sexual health related topics
Students from universities across the globe, interested to learn about sexuality and SRHR within the Indian context.

DURATION

Typically three to five days long for a comprehensive introduction to the topic and for participants to explore tips and tools.

Language

English or Hindi

LOCATION

Delhi/NCR and other parts of India and South Asia

PREVIOUS TRAININGS CONDUCTED WITH:

Aahung (Karachi, Pakistan), CARE India, CREA (New Delhi, India), GAP (Ahmedabad, Gujarat), Modicare Foundation (New Delhi, India), North East Network (Guwahati, India), Olakh (Vadodara, India), Parivar Seva Sanstha (New Delhi, India), Project Concern India (New Delhi, India), Point of View (Mumbai, India), Sabera (Kolkata, India), Urmul (Bikaner, India), YRG Care (Chennai, India) and The Naz Foundation India Trust (New Delhi, India). Gurgaon Ki Awaaz (Gurgaon, India), Mones (Mongolia), Tara Homes (New Delhi, India), Shriram Foundation (Chennai, India), Jagori (New Delhi, India), North East Network (Shillong, India), and many more!

A group picture from UCEP Bangladesh Training of Trainers on SRHR

“I loved the five day training programme. This was a new experience for me in my life. There were many things which were unknown to me and which I got to know here. The knowledge and the handouts will help me when I provide training in the future. I have also learnt new things about sexuality and about sexual harassment (diabled-child, woman or man) which I will tell others. In addition, attending a pride march was a first for me. I was also surprised and impressed by the way the LOOM women were establishing themselves. Overall I really liked the training. “

Testimonial from UCEP, Bangladesh

A group of trainers standing in a circle and participating in an exercise

“The 3 days were very informative, it has enhanced my knowledge on various aspects of sexuality. The methodology used was also participative and at the same time requiring critical analysis of several situations which may have been overlooked. Looking forward to more trainings (comprehensive)”