A. Growing Up/Badhte Hum (Video: 1998-2005)

An award-winning video based RSH initiative for young people in India and South Asia. Originally conceived as part of a BBC World Service Training/ Ford Foundation project in 1998, the Growing Up project has since been supported by DFIDI, and by UNAIDS, which supported the development of the Hindi adaptation, Badhte Hum.

Designed as a trilogy of films supported by a detailed facilitators' handbook, the modules are intended to be used as the core around which NGOs and schools can develop long term RSH interventions for young people. The three films in each module are intended to be seen segment by segment, and interspersed with games, activities and discussions - detailed in the handbook - that expand on the basic content of the modules. The first trilogy of films in English (Growing Up) and in Hindi (Badhte Hum), directed at 9 - 14 year olds; and the second trilogy in English (The Time of Our Lives), directed at 15 - 19 year olds are currently available to users and are in wide distribution nationally and internationally. The three films in each of the modules discuss reproductive anatomy, the physical changes of puberty, and the beginnings of sexual attraction, crushes and infatuation; and feature an innovative and entertaining blend of muppetry, animation, songs, live action and role playing designed to appeal to its young audience .

Both modules have been developed through an extensive interactive workshop process that has involved a large number of young people in the content design and presentation, as well as as participants in the films themselves. An initial series of workshops with young people identified the primary issues that needed to be addressed by the modules, as well as helped identify articulate individuals. The identified young people were invited to a second series of workshops where they brainstormed together to come up with ideas on how these issues needed to be addressed and presented within the modules. A few of the participants in the second workshops were then invited to be a part of the actual production process.

Over the last few years, the modules have also been the focus of a pilot implementation project in Jharkhand (2006), as well as an ARSH  capacity building programme in the Indian states of Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh (2006-07). The Growing Up films received the Runners-up award at the first edition of the New Delhi Video Festival (NDVF-1999); and the third part (“Boy Meets Girl”) was awarded as the Best Educational Film for Children at the 13th UGC-CEC Educational Video Festival. The modules are presently in distribution globally to agencies and organizations working in the field of adolescent RSH. Growing Up has also been the inspiration for a parallel project in Bangladesh, implemented by the Johns Hopkins University's Center for Communication Programs (JHU-CCP).

B. The Time of Our Lives (Growing Up Vol. II) (Video: 2004-2006)

In 2005, Ideosync completed production on the second volume of the Growing Up series in English, directed at 15 - 19 year olds, with support from the John D. & Catherine T.Macarthur Foundation. Building on the foundation laid by the Growing Up module, the three films in the Time of Our Lives module focus on the lives and situations encountered by six young friends to discuss issues around pregnancy and contraception, HIV and STIs, and sexual choices. All three films present the lives of its young protagonists in a reality show/soap opera inspired style, and are interspersed with interviews and animation that offer a variety of perspectives, thoughts and ideas on each of the key themes. The films are supported by a set of detailed information leaflets designed to be photocopied and distributed to its young audience; and are available in an attractive folder that contains the three films on VCD, along with leaflets accompanying each film.

C. Socho Aur Khelo/ Zindagi Ke Kuch Pahlu (Print: 2006)

As part of Ideosync's work on developing a BCC strategy on HIV risk reduction for street children addressed by three Family Health International (FHI) field partners under the USAID supported Impact project, Ideosync designed and produced a board game (Socho Aur Khelo - "Think & Play") and a set of flash cards (Zindagi Ke Kuch Pahlu - "Some Vignettes from Life") as a proof-of-concept of the approach and communiction imperatives suggested by the strategy. The materials were developed through an in-depth formative process that included a thorough field pre-test component, and combined innovative card- and board-game play with decision making and life skills development. The materials are now being used by the three field partners, Sharan, YWCA and Salaam Baalak Trust as an integral part of their HIV risk-reduction interventions; and have also reached NGOs and agencies working with children across the country.

D. Nirankush (35mm: 1998)

A one hour motion picture feature produced by Ideosync for the Govt. of India's Films Division and the Dept. of Health & Family Welfare, Nirankush is the story of Vani, a young social worker who decides to battle against female infanticide in the Indian state of Rajasthan. Naive and idealistic when she first reaches the village, Vani slowly realizes the interplay between lack of viable livelihoods, alcoholism and other sociocultural factors that plays a part in the community's bland acceptance of the barbaric custom - and struggles to convince Dhuli, the pregnant local girl she befriends, not to kill her baby if it is a girl. Shot on location in Rajasthan for theatrical release, Nirankush was developed as a discussion generation and behaviour change tool. Widely acclaimed, it was awarded the National Award (Rajat Kamal) for Best Educational/Motivational Film of 1998. It was also selected for the prestigious Indian Panorama section of the India International Film Festival (1998), and was awarded the Best Direction Award at the 6th Pyongyang International Film Festival for Non-aligned countries the same year. Nirankush was also the opening film at the Mumbai International Short Film Festival (1999)

E. Sangharsh (Video: 1999)

Developed as an ice-breaker cum BCC tool to support field health initiatives being run by Humana People to People and Project Concern International in the Indian state of Rajasthan, Sangharsh is a short video fiction feature on HIV awareness for a rural Indian audience. The film was developed through an in-depth interactive process with the villagers living in the intervention areas addressed by the two NGOs, both for content inputs, and as characters in the film itself. The film tells the story of Dhana, a young migrant worker; and his strong willed wife Gopa - and how their lives change after he discovers he is HIV positive. The film has been used to great effect in a variety of Hindi speaking rural areas across North India.

F. BCC Materials for Beyond Borders project (Print: 2006-2007)

Over 2006 and 2007, Ideosync worked with the Beyond Borders group, an active citizenship young people's initiative developed by the British Council Division's as part of its Connecting Futures project. Ideosync trained the RSH sub group of the Beyond Borders team in designing communication materials for other young people, which eventually culminated in the development of a basket of materials that were used by the team members as part of the school intervention programme they developed and implemented. The materials included an advocacy poster for teachers; an advocacy poster for young people; a post card and a pamphlet on condom use; and a board game that tests the RSH knowledge of its players. (Click on the links to view PDF versions of the materials.)