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Sex Shala - Service Learning
Sex Shala - Service Learning
Driving Question:
How might I fill the gap of the lack of educational resources sex education for youth in middle and high school in India?
Understanding The Problem:
The lack of comprehensive sex education in schools causes a harmful cycle. When students are taught limited or incomplete information about sex, relationships, and consent, they are left with many gaps in their understanding. This lack of knowledge can lead to serious issues, such as sexual violence, unhealthy relationships, and unwanted pregnancies.
These problems are made worse by a lack of resources and support for students, leaving them without safe spaces to ask questions or seek help. This contributes to ongoing stigma around sex and sex education, making both educators and parents uncomfortable when it comes to discussing these topics openly.
As a result, schools continue to teach non-comprehensive sex education, and the cycle repeats. Without breaking this cycle by introducing inclusive, honest, and comprehensive sex education, students are left vulnerable and uninformed, putting their safety, well-being, and relationships at risk.
Challenges that Exist in India Regarding Sex Education
Sex education in India faces several challenges that make it difficult for students to receive accurate, inclusive, and supportive information about their bodies, relationships, and health. This diagram highlights some of the key issues:
Inadequate Coverage of LGBTQ+ Topics
Most sex education programs in India completely ignore LGBTQ+ identities, relationships, and health needs. This leaves queer students feeling invisible and unrepresented, while also allowing misinformation and prejudice to thrive.
Lack of Standardized Curriculum
There is no single, nationally accepted sex education curriculum in India. This leads to inconsistent teaching — some schools may skip it entirely, while others offer outdated or incomplete lessons. Without standards, students are left without essential information about consent, contraception, or healthy relationships.
Limited Resources
Schools often lack proper materials, trained educators, and safe spaces where students can ask questions or seek support. This resource gap worsens the quality of sex education students receive.
Gender Insensitivity and Heteronormative Education
Many sex education programs reinforce gender stereotypes and focus only on heterosexual relationships. This narrow approach excludes the experiences of many students and reinforces harmful biases about gender roles and sexuality.
Stigma and Taboos Around Sex
Sex is still a taboo topic in many Indian families and communities. This stigma creates an uncomfortable atmosphere for both teachers and students, making it hard to have open, honest conversations about sexual health and relationships. Without breaking these taboos, comprehensive sex education cannot thrive.
STUDENT VOLUNTEERING AT SFI PRIDE- STUDENT POLITICAL ORGANIZATION: DU
Volunteered with SFI India, helping organize Pride marches & advocacy campaigns.
Pushed for educational reforms, including:
Surveys in institutions to track trans student enrollment & dropout rates.
Horizontal reservation for trans students.
Gender-neutral washrooms in schools/universities.
Gender sensitization workshops for students & staff.
This experience Gave me direct insights into institutional barriers and LGBTQ+ student needs.
Researching The Indian Educational Curriculum CBSE (and the many gaps)
Limited sex education with no mention of LGBTQ+ identities.
No mental health resources are tailored to queer youth.
No discussion of gender dysphoria, trans rights, or legal protections.
No LGBTQ+ representation in history, literature, or media studies.
Lack of educator training to support LGBTQ+ students.
Creating the Content Outline For The Online GuideReviewed Indian research on LGBTQ+ education.
Studied NCERT, CBSE, and other curricula to identify missing content.
Used my experiences from SFI India to ensure realistic, actionable recommendations.
Compiled India-specific resources for mental health, legal rights, and community support.
Driven By Design
this module torced me to look more sharply at both images and materials.
First, my 21-century skill, visual literacy, was tested. I found myself reading everything through a double lens: Ferrari fender next to the drape of a 1950s ball gown, a museum display of exotic skins next to the bumpers we saw at our visit to the bodyshop. By the end I was no longer just spotting references, I was composing with them, turning wind-tunnel footage into fabric choices and body-shop textures into surface finishes. Being able to decode and then re-encode those visuals into the prom dress ( the grey trail, angular styling for the second piece and the accessories for the runway) proved crucial to shaping a story the audience could absorb in a single glance.
My process evolved in deliberate, looping stages, always anchored to one question: Does this look feel as fast and fluid as it is red? It began in Rome’s Flea market, where I found a scarlet prom dress. I unpicked the back seam and added a futuristic fabric as a trail to play with nostalgia and futurism.
When I evaluate the final pieces, three strengths stand out. Conceptually, the garments tell a clear story of cutting through resistance—whether that resistance is wind on a track or societal pressure on queer bodies. Strategically, the specialist business plan I created also gives the garments a life beyond the studio, proving they are more than stage props.
Looking back, my progress runs deeper than improved sewing technique. I entered the term with so many questions but mainly about how do cars and fashion relate? The real leap was realising that fashion can draw energy from far-flung fields—race engineering, queer theory, circular design—and still feel cohesive.
As for the presentation, the runway did the heavy lifting. The spoken script set the stakes, and our controlled walks, turned the garments into moving arguments. Seeing the metallic tail flick and jessie and I walking with no music and staring at each other on our way back was a moment when concept and performance snapped perfectly into place.
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