What is CSE? And why does it matter?
Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) is the process of giving accurate information on gender, sexuality and safety to children and young people
As an NGO working for three decades on sexuality, we know what children and young people ask, or wish to learn about (hint: some of it has stayed the same for decades, like questions on the sizes of body parts, what is abuse, how to be safe, about menstruation, masturbation, attraction, etc.). We know that simply instilling fear around sexuality, or talking about abstinence, will only turn them away from educators and parents, and into the hands of inaccurate, discriminatory, sometimes dangerous, sources of information.
Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) is the process of giving accurate information on gender, sexuality and safety to children and young people in a way that is differentiated according to their age and stage of growth and understanding. It helps young people grow into informed, healthy and happy adults who make responsible choices, form safe and respectful relationships, and understand and respect their rights and others’.
Evidence featured by UNESCO and WHO confirms that CSE can help increase safe behaviours from children and young people, reduce their risk-taking, improve their communication skills, form healthier relationships, and initiate sexual activity later, and when they do, make it safer. It has also been clearly shown that not talking about these topics, or telling young people to abstain from sex until marriage, is ineffective in actually preventing sexual activity. School-based education on these topics, working collaboratively with parents, can be very impactful.
Who We Work With
Schools and Educators
At TARSHI, we understand why educators may feel hesitant about sexuality education: many did not get this information growing up or in teacher training. While schools now understand the need for sexuality education, they must balance students’ needs with concerns from parents, staff and administration, and their cultural contexts. We work with schools and educators to strengthen their knowledge on sexuality education, build their skills, and support in implementing sexuality education in a sustained and practical way.
In-person trainings: Since the early 2000s, TARSHI has been conducting trainings in schools for teaching and non-teaching staff on the basics of gender, sexuality, components of sexuality education and safety. Our trainings also help teachers build the skills required to address issues of gender and sexuality in the classroom, and the principles to follow to ensure they are being inclusive and supportive of every child’s lived realities. With some schools, we have conducted multiple trainings to cover all staff, and gone back over the years for refreshers (read case study).
Online course: TARSHI’s online course helps teachers, counsellors, sexuality educators and even parents understand the basics of CSE, learn the skills to engage on gender, sexuality and safety issues within a school setting, and gain comfort and confidence around addressing these topics in the classroom.
Support with curriculum development: We support schools in developing and implementing a curriculum on gender, sexuality, safety and related life skills. We also help schools explore how they can make the school safe, inclusive and self-affirming for the students and for the teachers, especially in the context of gender and sexuality.
Basics and more: What is “gender” and how is it different from “sex”? What are the terms that make up LGBTQ and what do they mean? What is a good age to begin sexuality education and what topics can we begin with? Will students think badly of me if I talk about such topics? Our FAQs, glossaries, and info resources can help with these questions and more!
Publications: Our The Orange Book and guides on CSE for educators give information, knowledge about CSE and tips on getting started – or strengthening – school initiatives on gender, sexuality and safety.
Parents
TARSHI believes firmly that CSE is not only the domain of schools and educators: parents and concerned adults also need to be involved for gender, sexuality and safety education to be impactful for children and young people. We recognise that parents require resources and know-how to talk about gender and sexuality at home, to help their children grow into informed, healthy and happy adults who know their rights and respect others’ rights.
Initiating conversations: Parents and concerned adults increasingly see the need to talk about gender, safety and sexuality with their children and young people, and keep channels of communication open. But where do they begin? TARSHI regularly hosts sessions for parents to go over the basics of gender and sexuality education and how they can open the doors for these conversations with their children at home.
Basics and more: What is “gender” and how is it different from “sex”? What are the terms that make up LGBTQ and what do they mean? What is a good age to begin sexuality education and what topics can we begin with? Our FAQs and info resources can help with these questions and more!
Publications: Our The Yellow Book is full of tips and tools, information and advice for parents and concerned adults to talk about gender, sexuality and safety with children and young people in their lives.
Voices from the Ground
I have gained a significant amount of knowledge about comprehensive sexuality education. Attending this workshop has been life-changing. I will practice what I have learnt in this workshop, thank you.