SERVICES
We offer comprehensive HIV/AIDS prevention and care services to low-income MSM and transgender women. This includes distributing condoms, STI and HIV/AIDS education, confidential counseling and testing, and access to Anti-Retroviral Therapy (ART) dispensaries, and community-friendly physicians.
SOCIAL ACTIVITIES AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
Our sensitization workshops have received international recognition for reaching all systems of society. These workshops work with college students, politicians, religious leaders, mediapersons, and local stakeholders such as landlords, shop owners, shop owners, and police personnel.
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COMMUNITY BUILDING AND LEADERSHIP
Sahodaran has become a sanctuary and stronghold for the LGBT community of Chennai. Sahodaran has not only created a safe space for MSM and transgender individuals, but has also created a community of empowered men and women with access to community-friendly physicians, counselors, activists, and healthcare.
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HEALTHCARE SERVICES AND COUNSELING
Sahodarans's Targeted Intervention program educates MSM individuals about HIV and STI/STD prevention and care. They also provide access for these individuals to treatment and counseling with community-friendly professionals at Drop In Centers. Sahodaran also hosts annual health camps where community members can receive dental and eye care.
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COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND ADVOCACY
Our 24-hour hotline helps MSM tackle crises relating to sex work, police harassment, healthcare, family, lack of housing, and physical violence. It serves to build and expand our community while creating a sanctuary for MSM and transgender individuals.
Sahodaran has initiated several income generation programs for community members to make and sell handmade products. The office functions as an informal marketplace where MSM/TG people can come and sell their products to others within the community. One of our goals is to build our IGP potential, to depend less on external funding.
HIV/AIDS PREVENTION AND CARE SERVICES
SENSITIZATION WORKSHOPS
INCOME GENERATION
WHAT
WE
DO:
24-HOUR HOTLINE
COMMUNITY-RUN DROP IN CENTER
Our community-run Drop In Center is a safe haven for MSM and TG to seek treatment, make friends, seek social support and enjoy leisure activities based on their needs. It has become a stronghold in Chennai's LGBT community.
RESEARCH
Sahodaran has generated visibility of MSM through research about MSM and HIV/AIDS in partnership with the Tuberculosis Research Center, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), the Center for Sexuality and Health Research Policy (C-SHARP), YRG Care, and the Fenway Institute, Boston.
PRIDE MONTH IN CHENNAI
In partnership with the Tamil Nadu Rainbow Coalition, we organize the annual Pride Month in Chennai, creating awareness about the LGBT community and rights through marches, performances, and events.
CULTURAL PROGRAMS
We celebrate all festivals at our Drop In Center, including those that focus on the transgender community. We receive grants from TNSACS to put on dance and educational theatre events at the annual celebrations at the Koovakkam festival south of Chennai. Our cultural troupe of dancers and theatre artists provides a platform for the community to showcase their talents in addition to helping generate income.
Sahodaran’s activities are designed to address three core stages of social change: empowering the individual, transforming social attitudes and fostering leaders of the MSM and transgender community. Targeted Intervention, crisis intervention, and the 24 Hour Hotline provide support for the community. Sensitization workshops with students, police officers, auto drivers, and religious leaders provide awareness for MSM and transgender individuals. The staff at Sahodaran is entirely made up of the LGBT community and is home to income-generating projects that serve to promote independence. Sahodaran also partners with sister organizations in Chennai that also advocate for the LGBT community.