Owing to the reach of the Hornbill festival and its largescale impact on the state’s youth population, there is no better time to promote health and wellness among youngsters. Durex ‘The Birds and Bees Talk’ is the health partner of the 23rd edition of Hornbill Festival.
Reckitt along with hygiene company Durex had launched the ‘Birds and Bees Talk’ programme which was implemented by PLAN India. The initiative targets around four million youth and adolescents across Northeastern states.
The programme is youth centric but involves parents and teachers in raising awareness and imparting sex education. The campaign comprehensively addresses growing up and life skills for youth between 10-19 years old.
The programme equips adolescents with essential knowledge, attitudes and values that will help them grow into responsible and healthy adults. Through a two-level interactive, animated curriculum, the ‘Birds and Bees Talk’ programme promotes the core principles of inclusion, awareness, consent, protection and equity. Besides, it promotes healthy behaviours by sharing information easily and creatively to empower the youth to make informed decisions.
The programme embarks the third year since the year of its launch in the northeast region. This year, Nagaland is hosting its 23rd edition of the Hornbill festival with the ‘Birds and Bees Talk’ programme being the health partner.
Ravi Bhatnagar, Director, External Affairs South Asia Office (SOA) Reckitt speaking on the sideline of the programme asserted that they are in all the aspirational districts of Northeast including Nagaland and it looks forward to strengthening their portfolio of working in Nagaland along with other Northeastern states.
“I am very sure when we see the happiness index in the countries like Bhutan and others, we will also be seeing the happiness index growing up, youth being happy,” he added.
Highlighting on the programme of the birds and bees talk he said it is all about growing up and breaking the diversity, the consent. The programme supports and stands for the propagation of literature, art and culture and has covered almost 100% aspirational districts with a commitment of making a mark by the virtue of the work.
He stated that Hornbill is an interesting advocacy tool that engages the youth who is the future nation builder.
“For a healthier and happier nation, youth need to be happy too,” he said.
Bhatnagar emphasised on the need to preserve and protect the Hornbill bird so the future will not just see hornbills on papers. He said hornbill is not just for the zoos, it should be able to venture out in cities and forest and that it should not be a mythological bird alone.
He also highlighted on the importance and need to actively look and protect the climate.
