OVERVIEW
Reach India Trust has been a committed organisation in improving Reproductive and Sexual Health (RSH) outcomes for adolescents, youth, women, and underserved communities across India. For many years, the organisation has worked closely with government systems, health institutions, and community platforms to expand access to accurate information, strengthen service delivery, and promote safer, informed, and dignified reproductive health practices.
Guided by a strong commitment to public health and gender equity, Reach India Trust adopts a comprehensive RSH approach grounded in capacity building, community engagement, counselling support, and behaviour change communication. The organisation’s field teams collaborate with ASHAs, ANMs, counsellors, teachers, and local leaders to ensure that communities receive reliable, stigma-free information on sexual health, family planning, menstrual hygiene, and adolescent well-being.
A key element of this portfolio has been the deployment of trained facilitators and community educators who conduct awareness sessions, school-based interventions, and household visits to address myths, misconceptions, and barriers related to reproductive and sexual health. These teams work intensively across villages, schools, and health centres to promote informed decision-making and encourage individuals—especially adolescent girls and young women—to access safe and quality health services.
Reach India Trust has also played a pivotal role in strengthening government frontline workers by organising training programmes on counselling skills, menstrual health management, family planning options, adolescent health guidelines, and community outreach strategies. Through these efforts, the organisation supports wider health-system strengthening and improved quality of care for rural populations.
Extensive SBCC initiatives—including group meetings, peer education sessions, mother–daughter discussions, health camps, and community events—have helped build supportive environments that normalise conversations around reproductive health. These activities promote essential behaviours such as use of sanitary products, safe contraceptive practices, timely health-seeking, and nutrition for adolescent girls.
Alongside these interventions, Reach India Trust incorporates complementary development approaches such as linking young people with skill-building opportunities, promoting gender-sensitive awareness, and supporting vulnerable groups including out-of-school adolescents, early-married girls, and women with limited access to health services. These integrated efforts ensure that reproductive and sexual health improvements are closely connected to the broader well-being, safety, and empowerment of communities.
Today, the Reproductive and Sexual Health portfolio of Reach India Trust represents a holistic, inclusive, and community-driven approach—where knowledge, access, and social support systems come together to create healthier and more empowered individuals. Through continuous engagement, strong partnerships, and evidencebased strategies, the organisation remains dedicated to improving reproductive and sexual health outcomes and strengthening dignity, agency, and well-being for all.
WAGE (David and Lucile Packard foundation)
OVERVIEW
The WAGE initiative, supported by the David and Lucile Packard Foundation, builds upon Reach India Trust’s long-standing experience in gender equity, adolescent development, and community-based health interventions. The programme focuses on strengthening women’s agency, empowering adolescent girls, and fostering safer, gender-responsive community environments. Drawing on its extensive work in rural Bihar and underserved regions, Reach India Trust facilitates evidence-based strategies that address social norms, promote informed choices, and expand opportunities for women and girls.
Working closely with local institutions, frontline workers, and community platforms, Reach India Trust deploys trained facilitators and mobilisers who conduct structured sessions, engage families, and support community dialogue on gender equality, reproductive health, safety, and life skills. The WAGE initiative emphasises participatory approaches, capacity building, and behaviour-change communication to ensure sustained empowerment and improved well-being for women and adolescents.
OBJECTIVES
- Strengthen the agency and decision-making power of women and adolescent girls.
- Promote gender-equitable norms through community dialogue, family engagement, and peer-support groups.
- Build the capacity of frontline workers, educators, and community influencers on gender, safety, and adolescent development.
- Support adolescent girls with knowledge, life skills, and pathways to improved health, education, and empowerment.
- Facilitate community-level structures that promote safety, inclusion, and gender-responsive practices.
IMPLEMENTATION FRAMEWORK
The WAGE programme includes
- Deployment of community educators, facilitators, and mobilisers to guide gender-transformative activities.
- Capacity-building workshops for frontline workers, teachers, youth leaders, and community influencers.
- Behaviour-change communication through group sessions, peer learning circles, community meetings, and family engagement.
- Structured modules on gender equity, reproductive health, menstrual hygiene, safety, life skills, and positive relationships.
- Collaboration with panchayat members, women’s groups, schools, and health systems to strengthen support mechanisms.
- Regular monitoring, community feedback loops, and progress assessments to track changes in knowledge, attitudes, and behaviours.
KEY COVERAGE AREAS
- Gender equality and social norm transformation.
- Adolescent girls’ empowerment and life-skills development.
- Capacity building of frontline and community-level actors.
- Community dialogue on safety, rights, and reproductive health.
- Family engagement and supportive environment building.
SUPPORTED BY
David and Lucile Packard Foundation
SASHAKT PROJECT
OVERVIEW
The SASHAKT project, supported by Pathfinder International, focuses on strengthening reproductive health, gender equity, and adolescent empowerment through community-based interventions. Building on Reach India Trust’s extensive grassroots experience, the project aims to improve awareness, access, and utilisation of reproductive health services while fostering supportive environments for young people and women. Reach India Trust engages trained facilitators, community mobilisers, and peer educators to deliver structured sessions on reproductive health, menstrual hygiene, family planning, life skills, and gender-transformative practices. The project also ensures linkages with health facilities, counsellors, and frontline workers to promote improved service uptake and informed decision-making. Through sustained community engagement and evidence-based strategies, SASHAKT works towards empowering individuals to make healthier choices and strengthening community systems for long-term impact.
OBJECTIVES
- Enhance knowledge and awareness of reproductive health, family planning, and menstrual hygiene among adolescents, youth, and women.
- Promote gender-equitable norms and reduce stigma related to reproductive and sexual health.
- Strengthen the capacity of frontline workers, peer educators, and community influencers on RH, FP, and adolescent issues.
- Facilitate improved access to quality reproductive health services through referrals and system linkages.
- Build adolescent life skills, confidence, and decision-making abilities through structured modules and peerlearning platforms.
IMPLEMENTATION FRAMEWORK
The SASHAKT project includes
- Deployment of trained community educators and mobilisers to conduct regular sessions and outreach activities.
- Capacity-building workshops for ASHAs, ANMs, AWWs, teachers, and youth leaders on reproductive health and gender.
- Structured curriculum-based group sessions for adolescents and women on RH, FP, menstrual hygiene, gender norms, and life skills.
- Community events, family engagement activities, and stakeholder meetings to encourage supportive norms and behaviours.
- Strengthening referral pathways and linkages with health facilities for counselling and reproductive health services.
- Continuous monitoring, community feedback mechanisms, and progress assessments to track changes in knowledge, attitudes, and health-seeking behaviour.
KEY COVERAGE AREAS
- Reproductive and sexual health awareness.
- Family planning information and service linkages.
- Menstrual hygiene education.
- Gender-equitable norm promotion.
- Adolescent life-skills and empowerment.
- Community and family engagement.
SUPPORTED BY
Pathfinder International