RESEARCH AND INTERVENTION

1. AIDS AWARENESS PROGRAMME FOR AUTO DRIVERS IN CHENNAI.

This program was started in January 1997 and was completed in 18 months. The program was specifically designed for a group of Auto Drivers involving several Auto Drivers as part of knowledge dissemination drive.


The program was designed with 3 approaches:

a. One to one education through 20 educators.
b. 2 social workers for counseling.
c. One to group education for auto drivers.

Totally 36,411 Auto Drivers were reached through this program.


2. INTERVENTION WITH BARBER COMMUNITY IN TAMILNADU:

This project was initiated in the year June 1996. This project was a statewide program and was conducted in 3 phases. In the phase one, ICWO has covered 6 districts and rest of the districts in phase 2 and 3.

The programme focused on barbers as the target group since the importance was high. The nature of their profession necessitates constant interaction with target people. Thus making them a valuable source of knowledge dissemination. The program has involved the Barbers Welfare Organization in every state in their activities.

A unique task that ICWO has undertaken is the distribution of condoms through barber shops. This is being done on a trail and has currently been on implementing stage across 540 Barber shops across Chennai. In 40 shops, complimentary mirrors on which relevant messages on STD / HIV / AIDS have been printed and distributed to the barbers. Nearly 2 lakhs condoms have been distributed during the period.

3. TWIP INTERVENTION IN MAMALLAPURAM
    (Tourist and women in Prostitution)

This project commenced in the month of September 1998 on a 3 year term basis and is being supported by APAC, VHS-USAID. A detailed exploratory study was carried out before the start of the project. Twenty sex workers were identified as peer educators and trained to disseminate information and knowledge about sexually transmitted diseases. STD referral and treatment was one of the main components of focus. The peer educators have performed several illuminating street plays in order to effectively get their message across the target group.

A field office has been set up in Mamallapuram to enhance the effectiveness of the     program. A drop in center was also established for tourists.

a. `Go for gold`… this involves filling in a questionnaire about HIV / AIDS and the person       who is marked the maximum points wins a gold coin.
b. `Talking Condom`
c. `Jeeboomba`… is a game that requires people to identify different condoms placed in a       box within half a minute.


4.TRAINING PROGRAMME AND SKILL TEST COMPETITION
   FOR MEN WHO HAVE SEX WITH MEN (M.S.M).

ICWO has conducted an Assessment Research to gather information about MSM in Chennai. The research team has mapped seventy two cruising areas in the city and has widely studied the network, timings, pick-up-points, power structures, socio-economic profiles, risk behavior and other patterns of modality. The researchers have identified 7000 homosexual men cruising on a regular basis in Chennai. The following are the major components under focus…

a. One to one and one to group education on STD / HIV / AIDS and prevention methods.
b. Condom Promotion
c. Referral & treatment for Sexually Transmission Diseases (STD / STI).
d. Peer Education.

This program has been very successful in meeting its objectives; around 6685 persons were interacted and educated. More than 11,000 condoms were distributed.


5.INTERVENTION WITH CHILDREN OF SEX WORKERS TO PREVENT THEM FROM INDULGING IN  THE SAME PROFESSION:


In TN there are about 90,000 sex workers who earn their daily bread through regular or occasional practice. When taking a look at Chennai City, based on the ethnographic study done by ICWO with the support of WHO, it is estimated that about 6300 women, are engaged in this work. So far no constructive or comprehensive welfare measures are taken up for this particular group in south India. Due to repression, stigma and taboo attached to sex work, prostitution in Chennai is largely underground, hidden surrounded with secrecy and fear. The sex work industry has reached to repression in many ingenious and creative ways to circumvent existing laws and keep enforcement agencies at bay. The sex workers are among the most repressed categories of the women.

Their children have been neglected by the society and face a lot of problems from peer groups, neighbors and educational institution. They are ill-treated because of their mother’s profession and are stigmatized. Even their basic needs and rights have been denied just because of their family background. These children are denied access to education, because of lack of birth certificates with their father’s name. Their life is unstructured and lacks purpose and direction. They are pushed into the victims of alienation, systematic exclusion, and economic marginalization. Their life style leads them to habits that are detrimental to their health and personality. A change in this regard is very much needed and immediate measures have been taken.

ICWO has started the UDHAYAM project with the support of ACTIONAID INDIA from May 2001. The project is mainly working for the children of sex workers who have been neglected in the society for a long period. One of the main problems the children face is that they are not able to continue their education due to lack of motivation and poor economic condition. Keeping this in mind ICWO has planned and implemented various developmental activities.

SAMARPAN is a street play team consisting of eight children of sex workers. This “samarpan” performs street play on various social issues on Child rights, women empowerment and so on. The team is also trained in performing skits, folk dances like Kummi, Kolattam and Karakattam in the public on social issues. This team charges RS. 1000/- per performance and this money will go to CHILDREN RAISING FUND (CRF).

The main objective of this CRF is whatever money is raised by CRF, will go for educational scholarship for children of sex workers. The office barriers consists of children of sex workers who will decide the scholarship.

SADHANA – As part of our program ICWO has adopted a strategy called “Mentor Concept on Education” and it is functioning under the name of SADHANA. The SADHANA is a study centre in which children of sex workers are identified, motivated and referred to this centre. This center has one mentor (who is a sex worker) who helps the children in their studies and overall development. They promote value-based education among the children of sex workers.

CHILDREN FORUM - The children forum is formed in all the intervention areas. There are fifteen forums and each forum has a facilitator elected by the members of the forum. The facilitator organizes the forum meeting every month and facilitates discussion on issues relevant to their community. Apart form this, ICWO organizes regular program like Medical Camps, Regular Health Check-ups, Yoga and Meditation, Art therapy Exposure Visits, Cultural Sports events and Parents forum for the members of the forum.