For almost two years now, the Institute of Educational Development (IED), BRAC University has been piloting a model for providing adolescents with knowledge and support for sexual and reproductive health and rights & gender (SRHR-G) and emotional wellbeing. IED’s model focuses on the position of the ShomajShongi, who are para-counsellors that work alongside teachers and parents, to provide adolescents with interactive classes that givetools to vulnerable adolescents for increasing their mental strength, awareness, knowledge on their own gender and abuse rights, as well as extended family support.
IED is currently piloting with 25 ShomajShongi who are working the 1,200 disadvantaged and outreached adolescents that attend IED’s slum-based SSCOPE centres. In mid-July, the 25 ShomajShongireceived training on new issues to discuss with adolescents, which they are now in the process of discussing with adolescents at the SSCOPE centres. The new issues include the following content:
The dedicated SRHR-G team at IED gave the training of the ShomajShongi on this content.