UPES takes a step towards supporting adolescent girls

UPES Social Internship Team and student society GS3, in collaboration with an NGO, organised a drive in Than village of Uttarakhand to inform adolescent girls about reproductive and sexual health

In 2020, the World Health Organisation (WHO) released a fact sheet on adolescent reproductive health. The statistics were alarming.

It was found that at least 10 million unintended pregnancies occur each year among adolescent girls. Complications during pregnancy and childbirth were the leading cause of death for 15–19-year-olds globally. WHO further estimated that two-thirds of all sexually-transmitted diseases worldwide occurred in teenagers and people in their early 20s.

According to the International Journal of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Adolescent Reproductive and Sexual Health (ARSH) forms a major part of the global burden of sexual ill-health. This, unfortunately, is a consequence of a knowledge gap among the youth. Therefore, there is an urgent need to educate adolescents in a safe and healthy environment, where they can freely communicate their concerns. 

The ARSH awareness drive

On this matter, UPES Social Internship Team and student society GS3, in collaboration with the Global Organisation for Research, Education, and Development (GORED), organised a drive in Uttarakhand’s Than village. The event took place at a government school.

The team created a supportive space to interact with girls of age groups 13-18. They informed them about sexual health and provided them with sanitary kits that were sponsored by GORED.

Talking about how the stigma surrounding the issue hinders discussion, Shramishtha Tomar, Social Internship Officer, Career Services, UPES, said, “ARSH is rarely discussed with the right beneficiaries. It is the fear of the unknown and the stigma surrounding menstruation that prevents young girls from having a dialogue about periods. Through the ARSH workshop, hopefully, we could clear clouds surrounding the topic. As expected, the audience was initially reserved and quiet. However, as the session progressed and we shared our experiences with them, we could notice a significant difference in their demeanour. It ended up being an informative and interactive workshop. We also demonstrated how to use the reusable sanitary kit. I am hopeful that through these sessions, we can also include other genders in the dialogue, and debunk the taboo surrounding menstruation.”

Mani Chaudhary, a first-year student at the School of Design, was grateful to be a part of this drive. She said, “ARSH was a successful event. It was a valuable experience for me to enhance the knowledge of young girls. The sweet and innocent souls of those girls filled my heart with joy. It was an extraordinary experience for me, and I am looking forward to more opportunities like this.”

For Shivani Yadav, Social Internship Officer, UPES Career Services, this was a learning experience. She said, “ARSH was one of the best sessions I had attended and delivered in months. This session taught me how to connect with young girls, debunk the myths, and break the stereotypes. I also learnt how difficult it can be for young girls to talk about healthcare and menstrual hygiene. I tried to put my knowledge into practice.”

Adhering to its values of being a ‘University with a Purpose’, UPES continues to lead the discourse on significant matters that shape society. Such awareness campaigns broaden the students’ mindset and benefit the community at large.