SK Setia, DPI (schools), introduced comprehensive AEP (Adolescent Education Programme), to be implemented from October onwards, in all senior secondary and secondary schools of the city. The programme will be implemented in collaboration with State AIDS Control Society, Chandigarh. Under this programme, red ribbon clubs would be established in schools.

Setia said that this program would build capacities of adolescents and prepare them to face new challenges of modern day life. AEP will aim at enhancing essential values and life skills, for coping and managing concerns of adolescence, through co-curricular activities (CCA) in senior students of class IX onwards. AEP includes life skills evolving creative and critical thinking, self-awareness and self-esteem, decision making and problem solving, inter-personal relationships and effective communication, coping stress and emotions. This program aims at providing accurate knowledge to students, developing healthy attitudes, responsible behaviour about process of growing up, HIV/AIDS and substance abuse awareness, promoting respect for the opposite sex and dealing with gender stereotypes are a part of the programme.

Two nodal teachers of red ribbon clubs and six masters trainers from the city, were specially trained for this program in a NACO sponsored workshop in New Delhi. The main aim of this programme is to equip every child between 10 and 19 with scientific information, knowledge and life skills to protect them from HIV infection and manage their reproductive and sexual health. According to statistics, more than 22% of India's population is between 10 to 19 years of age. Hence education of young people between this age group is very important to save them grip of AIDS.

Dr Vanita Gupta, project director, State AIDS Control Society, UT, said. "With ever-increasing threats of growing drug/substance abuse, gender discrimination, child abuse, HIV/AIDS infections and suicides amongst young people, it is high time that we realize the importance of this initiative and take corrective measures."