Adolescent Programs

Adolescents and youth are an enormous untapped resource and potential. It is a challenge to every society, community, state and nation to steer the latent energies of their young adult generations to enable them to realize their full potential. Working towards achieving this goal, a number of adolescent empowerment programs have been taken up at RDI. The programs encompass the essential elements of adolescent career and growth needs, personality development issues, reproductive health and sexuality encompassing physical health, malnutrition, reproductive health, RTI/STD's, safe motherhood and childcare, other morbidities etc. All these programs help in enhancing the knowledge, attitude and practices among adolescents.

To achieve the above-mentioned aims, a whole range of activities are undertaken through various programs. They range as under:

1. Training of trainers - RDI functions as a nodal agency and facilitates training of trainers for carrying out adolescent programs. The trainees range from partner NGO's to government functionaries. Adolescents are also undergoing the training of trainers program to reach out to more adolescents.
2. Training of adolescents- Trainings are undertaken through formal and informal ways. An innovative approach is the use of kits (containing interesting games and stories for facilitative and experiential learning) dealing with various adolescent health and development issues.
3. Behavior Change Communication - Mass dissemination of information is taken up through street plays (nukkad nataks), puppet shows, radio talk shows, wall writings, posters, inter village and inter school competitions, development of booklets for adolescents etc.
4. Health camps and clinics are organized to address common ailments among adolescents as Anemia, RTI, STI and other related illnesses. Immunization against Tetanus is also undertaken on a big scale & contraceptives (Condoms and Oral Contraceptive Pills) are distributed to adolescent eligible couples wherever necessary.
5. Counseling - is done for health, development and personality related issues.
6. Community sensitization towards adolescent issues and concerns through formation of committees.
7. Networking and Development of linkages with the existing system of health, ICDS, education and Pahchayati Raj Institutions (PRI's) and NGOs so that adolescent concerns can be addressed effectively.
8. Kits and Modules "You Are the Architect of Your Life" - a comprehensive tool attempting to increase the knowledge, attitude and practices of adolescents on a multitude of issues ranging from reproductive health to emotional empowerment and spirituality.
9. Career development programs - including vocational training and indigenous livelihood systems.
10. Establishment of Adolescent Resource Centers (ARC) - equipped with a multimedia center, an E-library, a training cell and counseling center, ARC addresses multi needs pertaining to health, career, education and self-awareness.
11. Contests and exposure visits