Yes, people should come forward to each other with their beliefs and knowledge and develop the common language. I do believe that in every person, there is an inherent desire and ability to do good; one just needs to find a platform to believe this fact and that we thrive only in ‘interdependence’.

regards
Ram Sanodiya

Following are a few comments, which I put down in the form of points after a preliminary look.

1. *The mental health issue*: I think the mental health issue needs to be addressed with greater detail. Though most of the violence seems to be due to socio-cultural reasons such as gender, however, issues such as the difference between violence and consent and the disintegrating lines thereof are more of mental health issues that need to be figured into syllabus, in the absence of an efficient and well-capacitated mental health issues addressable system.

2. *Universality*: Since I am not privy to the spectrum of the actual consultations, the observations seem to be a little lost on addressing beyond an urban/semi-urban setting. Of course that is my limited personal view and the topic is open to interpretation, but I think, heavy-duty customization based on community standards (in various categories such as caste, ethnicity) may be a good idea. For example,

3. *Fun*: Kudos on the use of theater and music as a means of efficient communication. Small personal experience: It was through a play which I saw at age 13 that I learnt about AIDS, HIV (difference between the two), communicability of the disease and the responsibility that is attached to keep self and others protected from it.

4. *Adult Training*: I agree with what you have written on this. As an example, I have observed that in my own home, two informed women and an open-minded man in my family have made all the difference to my approach towards gender equality and therefore has an impact directly on my understanding of sex, AIDS, violence and so on. Though adult training may be difficult especially in a rural setting, educating siblings may be a good way to start for the government.

5. *Convergence*: Convergence of STIs. A girl’s sexual reproductive health is probably open to huge risks from non-HIV infections such as mononucleosis, HPVs, UTI, PCOS and the predisposition that one creates for the other.

6. *Testing and Certification: *This I believe is a very good practice. Get yourself tested and certified. As a finale to all of what you have written and some stuff that I said and taking into account changing of mindsets etc, a direct manifestation can be observed in a partners’ willingness to have themselves fro a full range of STIs (bacterial, viral or fungial: HPVs, mono, HIV, Hepatitis, etc)

Thanks for your great work and good luck for everything else you are working with.

I would like to join The YP Foundation in the capacity of a volunteer. Could you please tell m the procedure for the same? I can’t seem to find it from the website!