SHIP- Happy Healthy Responsible!

Sexual Health Intervention Project (SHIP), project of Association for Promoting Social Action (APSA), a rights-based, child-centered community organization, Bangalore, India. SHIP is an evidence based project, which takes into account the attitudes and sexual realities of street children. It uses a comprehensive approach to build knowledge and to empower children in making their own informed decisions about sexual health. Through an intense and long-term programme, it raises self-awareness through a highly personal approach that goes beyond the topic of HIV/AIDS. This helps to build a safe space for the street children to share feelings and thoughts on sensitive and personal issues.

SHIP not only provides the children with adequate information but also addresses misconceptions on sexual health. Street children have their own understanding and perception of risk. To counter the apathy, fear and shame that often arise when street children are asked to think about their personal risks, APSA-SHIP focuses on developing positive feelings of agency and self-worth. The programme continually balances risk messages with sex positive messages whereby, fear-messaging that many HIV interventions rely on is avoided. For such an intense and ambitious programme to be effective in the field, the NGO facilitators who conduct these sessions undergo intense trainings on sexuality (as seen through the eyes of street children) and how to use the toolkit effectively.  SHIP provides continuous coaching and support to all its.

The complete intervention program consists of 5 phases—each of which builds on the previous one. In order to make it widely accessible, it has been translated into three local languages – Kannada, Telugu and Tamil. Some of the preliminary session for all the three languages are available on the website for downloads. Currently there are 30 partners who will reach out to more than 3000 children with this sexual health information and skills.