Champa Kit Research | Read The Champa Story Also see Shankar Kit | Adolescence guidebook

Adolescence is a time when many changes take place in the body. Changes which give rise to confusion and curiosity in adolescent minds. For most adolescents there is no reliable source of information which can provide answers to their questions. In such an environment, reproductive health education can be the first step towards their empowerment and towards them making informed choices whenever possible.

Rural adolescent girls have limited exposure to school education and mass media. This limits their awareness about the body; its functions and responses. In a male dominated society, girls are unable to assert themselves or take control in sexual situations. They often face sexual violence, which can place them at risk of unwanted pregnancies or STD /HIV infection.

As a teaching aid, this kit would help health workers disseminate information on reproductive health to rural adolescent girls.

About the kit The kit is based on a story, the central character of which is a twelve-year old girl, Champa. The story is presented through flip charts. The key issues covered in the flip charts are highlighted and explained through games and visual aids. The kit comprises five modules. Each module is self-sufficient and can be used either singly or in sequence with the other modules. The sequence of issues covered are: Self-esteem, puberty. Menstruation facts. Conception and sex determination. Spacing children - why ? Spacing children - how ?

The story and the aids/activities were conceived and developed after extensive research, analysis and field-testing conducted by Thoughtshop Foundation in collaboration with Child In Need Institute. Though the kit has been developed for rural adolescent girls in Bengal, it can be adapted for other languages as well. The kit has been adapted in Hindi (for Care India projects) and is called the Paro Kit.

What the Champa Kit Contains

Double sided cloth Poster Side A introduces the kit by talking about self esteem and side B introduces the different body systems.

Card game A set of 52 playing cards and a reference card. The game serves as an ice-breaking exercise. It helps the educator to initiate discussions on social and health issues in the context of reproductive health.

Flipchart One: Champa begins a new journey Adolescence a special phase in life. 8.5' by 10.5': (11 pages) spiral bound with full colour illustrations. This flip chart introduces the physical and emotional changes that take place in a girl's body with the start of puberty.

Flipchart Two: Champa's discovery Why does menstruation happen? 8.5' by 10.5': (10 pages) spiral bound with full colour illustrations. This flip chart discuses social and health issues related to menstruation; such as the associated myths, how to maintain hygiene during the menstrual cycle, irregular menstruation and white discharge.

Flipchart Three: Champa learns a secret Baby girl or Baby boy; how does it happen? 8.5' by 10.5': (8 pages) spiral bound with full colour illustrations. This flip chart deals with conception and childbirth. Apart from the biological processes; the flipchart explains how the sex of a child is determined and how it is a matter of chance rather than a curse or blessing on the mother.

Flipchart Four: Champa glimpses her future Learning about responsible parenthood. 8.5' by 10.5': (8 pages) spiral bound with full colour illustrations. This flip chart deals with the need for family spacing. It covers issues such as the right age for marriage, delaying the birth of the first child, spacing subsequent pregnancies, pre and postnatal care.

Flipchart Five: Champa increases her knowledge Planning a happy family. 8.5' by 10.5': (8 pages) spiral bound with full colour illustrations. This flip chart focuses on the methods of family spacing including condoms, birth control pills, IUDs, tubectomy and vasectomy. It also mentions the need for protection from STDs/ HIV and the risks of abortion.

Menstruation Cut-out book 8.5' by 10.5': Cut out book with full colour illustrations. The book contains moving parts including a magnet which represents the egg. It is used to demonstrate how the menstrual cycle happens.

Conception model Plastic 7' X 11.5' This is a 2 piece plastic model with male and female parts that fit together. A spare set of black and white beads come with the model. It is used to demonstrate how conception takes place and how the sex of a child is determined.

Family Spacing Board Game The game consists of a triangular board, a number dice, playing counters and a special age dice. The game helps recap of the issues discussed in the third flipchart related to spacing children.

Jigsaw Puzzle Two jigsaw sets made of fluted board; when put together they form the male and female body. It is used to liven up the session and demonstrate that a male and female are required for conception.

Instruction Manual A4 size illustrated 24 page manual The manual contains instructions to help educators make best use of the kit.

Download printable Hindi version (Paro_manual_07.pdf, 318 Kb)

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