Smartphones talking about basic sex

by iVoice Staff
21-Dec-2015

People with disabilities are considered easy targets by sexual predators – that is why their numbers are disproportionately high among the victims of rape and sexual harassment in Sri Lanka.

And it doesn’t help that they have limited access to basic information and understanding about human sexuality.

While the local school curriculum includes age appropriate elements of sex education, it’s been found that teachers are reluctant to teach these lessons.

Hans Billimoria, who leads the non-profit Grassrooted Trust and has carried out several lessons and workshops for students in reproductive health education, said at a panel discussion: “It’s not a lack of reproductive health education but the problem lies with teaching the subject.”

Instead of waiting for culture and sensitivities to evolve, Grassrooted Trust has stepped in to fill that void.

Comprehensive Reproductive Health Education for people with disabilities

The knowledge gap is even bigger for people with disabilities. For the hearing and visually impaired, access to this information is more limited. In an earlier post, we wrote about how the hearing impaired suffered due to the lack of information, and how concerned groups and government agencies have stepped into create a sign language glossary to ensure that they have access to a comprehensive guide to reproductive health.

Capture

But what about the visually impaired?

Along with the launch of the Sign Language Glossary, the United Nations Fund for Population Activities (UNFPA) recently launched a mobile application that’s packed with information from on gender-based violence, reproductive rights, sexually transmitted infections (STIs), and sexuality.

What’s more, the ABLE app will also direct users to an STI clinic closest to their location.

By double-tapping the phone, the application will go into voice mode and read out the information and guide users through the sections – making the contents accessible for those who are hearing impaired.

Here’s a run through of what ABLE app offers.

Sexuality

This is a bit of a controversial topic in Sri Lanka, but regardless of what your opinion is on the subject, I’m sure you will agree that inaccurate information can be confusing and even harmful.

ABLE provides a basic understanding of sex and sexuality. It can help the user tell myth from fact, and help them make the right choices about their sexual health.

Sexuality is about much more than just sex

Delving a bit deeper into the subject, the application makes it clear that ‘sexuality’ isn’t simply about whether you are male or female. It’s about how you feel about your sex, and how the society’s stereotypes aren’t always real.

Why do people have sex?

To some, this question may seem too basic. But for an adolescent trying to understand what the changes in their physical appearance and their sudden desires mean, it can be quite frustrating when they can’t find answers.

ABLE explains that some people have sex to have children. Other reasons include expressing love, commitment, caring, experience physical pleasure, and at times to prove their masculinity or femininity.

But of course, not all of these are good reasons. The application goes on to describe the reasons that aren’t right — and makes it clear that if you are being hurt then it is certainly not right.

These are just some of the areas that ABLE covers. The application is a valuable source of information – helping the user understand if they are ready for sex. It talks about gender-based violence, puberty and pregnancy as well.

To explore ABLE for yourself, go on over to the Android or Apple app store on your smartphone, and download the application for free. Hopefully, in time, when smart phones are available to all, the impact of ABLE will be felt islandwide.

(This article was originally published in www.kiyanna.lk. That site is now changed to www.ivoice.lk owned by SDJF and supported by UNFPA)

Views:
3560

2017

13 votes
Online & Mobile Platform to Report Sexual & Street Harassment
The problem
Crowdsourcing SMS and online reports of sexual harassment and assault and map them on an online map. Using these reports to show people the scale of the problem and to dispel myths about, and excuses for, sexual harassment – like for example that ‘how women dress’ or ‘sexual frustration’ are reasons and excuses for sexual harassment. Using these crowd sourced reports, research, and experiences from on-the-ground work to create communications campaigns to dispel myths about sexual harassment, change perceptions that place blame on the harassed, and mobilize people to take positive action against sexual harassment that happens to them or others. Working to steer the media discourse on the issue towards a facts-based positive discussion of what needs to be done to end this epidemic.
The solution
Crowdsourcing SMS and online reports of sexual harassment and assault and map them on an online map. Using these reports to show people the scale of the problem and to dispel myths about, and excuses for, sexual harassment – like for example that ‘how women dress’ or ‘sexual frustration’ are reasons and excuses for sexual harassment. Using these crowd sourced reports, research, and experiences from on-the-ground work to create communications campaigns to dispel myths about sexual harassment, change perceptions that place blame on the harassed, and mobilize people to take positive action against sexual harassment that happens to them or others. Working to steer the media discourse on the issue towards a facts-based positive discussion of what needs to be done to end this epidemic.
Budget

5000000

by suefdo
0 votes
போக்குவரத்து
The problem
பஸ் சேவையை ஏற்படுத்தி கொடுத்தல் மிதிவண்டிகள் ஒழுங்கு செய்தல்
The solution
பஸ் சேவையை ஏற்படுத்தி கொடுத்தல் மிதிவண்டிகள் ஒழுங்கு செய்தல்
Budget

140000

by Karthik Rajitha
22 votes
Show you can
The problem
Show you can – movement with the differently abled children Planned Capacity Building activities with the Children 1. Bringing out their skills and developing it in a professional manner applicable to them. As the skills differs I have seeked our skilled volunteers’ supports. 2. Making outside exposures – The Down syndrome children were cornered and never had outside exposures making them to experience in the outside environment and mingle with the people. Also, making them to learn and speak. Conducting psychotherapy activities to make them abled. How can to achieve it? Everything is depend on our Attitude. From the parents to the community needs a awareness on 'Inclusive Living' like inclusive education. Their attitude should be changed in order to accept their children without leaving them at Care Centers. As already said the Capcity building programme to build their potential will be conducted for the Children already exist at the Care centers. Making them to prepare to utilize the opportunities in Expressive Art like Visual Art, Drama and etc, National Youth Award Programm, Sports and etc. Though, we have sports activities but that is not opened for the Down Syndrome group. Even, the existing sports has a boundary. Through the project that boundary will be removed like Love has no boundaries. The Inclusion will be apparently focused on the project, Also, the Gifted Children will be guided to be as a peace builders as it is being on the current issue in our country. They are discussions on transitional justice and all, there is no proper mechanism to heal the trauma caused due to Civil War. Hence, the 3 months comprehensive training the gifted children will be as a social agent to heal the past and to build the future. The expected output from the gifted children will be to see them as a Leader, Healer, Peace builder and to be as a motivator with the extensive experience gained from the project.
The solution
Show you can – movement with the differently abled children Planned Capacity Building activities with the Children 1. Bringing out their skills and developing it in a professional manner applicable to them. As the skills differs I have seeked our skilled volunteers’ supports. 2. Making outside exposures – The Down syndrome children were cornered and never had outside exposures making them to experience in the outside environment and mingle with the people. Also, making them to learn and speak. Conducting psychotherapy activities to make them abled. How can to achieve it? Everything is depend on our Attitude. From the parents to the community needs a awareness on 'Inclusive Living' like inclusive education. Their attitude should be changed in order to accept their children without leaving them at Care Centers. As already said the Capcity building programme to build their potential will be conducted for the Children already exist at the Care centers. Making them to prepare to utilize the opportunities in Expressive Art like Visual Art, Drama and etc, National Youth Award Programm, Sports and etc. Though, we have sports activities but that is not opened for the Down Syndrome group. Even, the existing sports has a boundary. Through the project that boundary will be removed like Love has no boundaries. The Inclusion will be apparently focused on the project, Also, the Gifted Children will be guided to be as a peace builders as it is being on the current issue in our country. They are discussions on transitional justice and all, there is no proper mechanism to heal the trauma caused due to Civil War. Hence, the 3 months comprehensive training the gifted children will be as a social agent to heal the past and to build the future. The expected output from the gifted children will be to see them as a Leader, Healer, Peace builder and to be as a motivator with the extensive experience gained from the project.
Budget

175000

by kishoth.n
10 votes
Reconciliation through communication
The problem
getting 20 youths from particular three main ethnicity (Tamil,Muslim,Sinhalese) in Ampara district and do an exchange project that youths from sinhalese community and youth from tamil community will stay at youths' home from muslim community and learn their life style, traditions and cultures, this activity will continue in routine so that they can make a good understanding friendship and raise theirs voice if any of these community face rational difficulties and the participants will be trained on the contents of nonviolence communication, sexual and gender difference ,leadership and team building before starting the exchange activity to make a good bound among.
The solution
getting 20 youths from particular three main ethnicity (Tamil,Muslim,Sinhalese) in Ampara district and do an exchange project that youths from sinhalese community and youth from tamil community will stay at youths' home from muslim community and learn their life style, traditions and cultures, this activity will continue in routine so that they can make a good understanding friendship and raise theirs voice if any of these community face rational difficulties and the participants will be trained on the contents of nonviolence communication, sexual and gender difference ,leadership and team building before starting the exchange activity to make a good bound among.
Budget

100000

by Sinan Uthumalebbe
15 votes
Social Services as extra Curricular activity for school students
The problem
conducting leadership programs and involving the students of Navatkadu Namahal Vidyalayam students in social action project in their area. Making them to be strong to stand for their community. Introducing the concepts volunteering, peace building and reconciliation concepts to them
The solution
conducting leadership programs and involving the students of Navatkadu Namahal Vidyalayam students in social action project in their area. Making them to be strong to stand for their community. Introducing the concepts volunteering, peace building and reconciliation concepts to them
Budget

100000

by Thujimayuran