FINAL REPORT ON ADOLESCENT SEXUAL & Submitted to: Health for Life, Oasis Complex, Patao Dhoka, Lalitpur, REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH Submitted by: Nirman Sanchar Sewa, (ASRH) TELE SERIAL New Baneshwore-34, , Nepal PRODUCTION 16th May 2016 Background:

Nepal’s 2011 census reports about 13 percent of the population is composed of early adolescents, 11 percent is late adolescents and nine percent is 20-24 years old. Hence young people aged 10- 24 years comprise about 33 percent of the total population of Nepal. Ministry of Health and Population with support from departments, centers and supporting partners are planning and executing number of ASRH programs in the country. NDHS 2011 and other survey data indicate that still there are many gaps on Adolescent Sexual & reproductive Health and needs lots innovative and program continuation to address those gaps on ASRH. Existing Behavior of Adolescents:  Adolescents have incomplete knowledge about pubertal changes and they are too shy to ask or seek reproductive health information from available sources.  Adolescents have challenges in life skills such as decision making, communication, etc.  Adolescents are hesitant to go to Adolescent Friendly Services Centers.  Adolescents have incomplete knowledge about HIV, AIDS and STI.  Many sexually adolescents have an unmet need for contraception.  Many adolescents practice harmful behaviors such as drinking, smoking and abusing drugs.  Adolescent girls especially from remote area practice unhygienic ways and means during menstrual periods.  Adolescent girls do live with poor nutrition food habits.  Many adolescent girls when pregnant do not seek ANC and visit HFs for delivery  Adolescent Sexual Reproductive Health (ASRH) is not considered a priority in the community especially among parents.  Teachers are hesitant to teach existing ASRH curriculum.  Health workers are hesitant to provide ASRH services to unmarried adolescent.  Many parents make decisions to marry daughters at an early age.  In-laws and parents pressure newly married couple to have children quickly.

National Health Education, Information and Communication Center (NHEICC) is doing some specific IEC/BCC interventions on Adolescent Sexual & Reproductive Health (ASRH) issues to raise awareness and behavior change of the adolescents and youth. H4L and other partners are providing technical support in ASRH IEC/BCC activities but it is not enough and only certain specific intervention might not be sufficient to aware and change their behavior enormously. In this context, drama /film /serial can be one of the additional effective interventions to raise awareness and behavior change of the adolescent and youth. Tele vision channel is one of the most popular mass media in Nepal. It is one of the adolescent friendly media. So H4L has produced and aired Tele Serial (12 episodes) on ASRH with the leadership of NHEICC. Nirman Sanchar Sewa had been assigned with this task to produce and air the tele-drama.. This Serial has focused on the gaps and hopefully has developed story and tele- drama in enter-educational format encouraging adolescent and youth groups to watch, learn and practice healthy behaviors.

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Objectives: After watching ASRH Tele Serial we are quite optimistic that the adolescents and youth have been made aware about Adolescent Sexual & Reproductive Health and they have learnt and practiced following behavior:  Adolescents will know about puberty before it happens and consider puberty a natural process and they will seek information from a trusted source like a teacher, health worker, parents or trusted adult.  Adolescents will learn about legal age of marriage, demonstrate life skills such as decision making leading to delayed marriage, delaying first pregnancy and healthy timing and spacing.  Adolescents seek Adolescent Friendly Services (AFS ).  Adolescents have comprehensive knowledge about HIV, AIDS and STI.  Sexually active adolescents who want to space or delay fertility are able to access contraception.  Adolescents avoid drinking alcohol, smoking and taking drugs.  Adolescents maintain sanitary hygiene practices.  Adolescents have healthy food habits.  All pregnant adolescent girls will have at least 4 ANC visits.  All pregnant adolescent girls will deliver in a health facility or birthing centers.  ASRH considered a priority for discussion and action among parents and community members.  Teachers facilitate ASRH curriculum within the school and college setting.  Health workers provide friendly services in a non-judgmental way maintaining privacy and confidentiality.  Parents will delay marriage until the girl is at least 20 years old or support their daughter in her decision to marry later.  In-laws and parents support young couple to have children when the couple is ready.

Audiences:

Primary Audience: Adolescent boys and girls age 10-19 & Youth 15-24 year Secondary Audience: Friends, Parents, teachers, health service providers, community leaders Tertiary Audience: FCHVs, health mother's group members, religious leaders, faith healers etc. Pre-Production Phase: To address access to and use of health services, H4L seeks to improve health seeking behaviors of adolescents, youth and married women of reproductive age. H4L, under its media mix program strategy, is providing technical assistance.

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In this regards, H4L has given the opportunity for producing and broadcasting 12 episodes telefilm to our organization Nirman Sanchar Sewa. Without any delay we started working immediately after an agreement made between H4L & Nirman Sanchar Sewa. According to the predefined task on SOW of TOR we have completed following task to till date:

1) Audition (9th July 2015)

As per the TOR, we have completed audition for selection of the artistes on 9th & 10th July 2015. We auditioned and observed artistic talent and their experience of more than 50 participants who were interested to work in the tele-serial. Health Education Administrator on behalf of NHEICC, BCC Technical Advisor on behalf of H4L and Production Chief on behalf of Nirman Sanchar Sewa were involved in the artiste's selection committee. The audition committee throughly observed and evaluated the participant's artistic capacity based on the criteria(passed experience, theaterical experience, enthusiasm, character suitable for the story line etc.. After very thorough review and discussion the committee selected following artistes for the tele-drama.:

List of selected artiste (tentative)

S.N. Name of Artistes Age Role based on story Main characters 1. 25 Ujjwal Sir 2 18 Sneha 3. 19 Awaran 4. 18 Simant 5. 17 Swechha

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S.N. Name of Artistes Age Role based on story 6. 17 Pasang 7. 20 Karuna Father & mother (characters artiste)

1. 48 Awaran’s Father 2. 45 Awaran's Mother 3. 46 Swechha's Father 4. 40 Swechha's Mother Main sub-characters 1. 21 Pinky 2. 16 Bibek 3. 20 Girish 4. 15 Puja 5. 13 Upasana (Sani) Other and characters

2) Focus Group Discussion (16th July to 18 July 2015) Objectives of the FGD

 To understand the views of targeted audiences on the proposed storyline.  To know whether the storyline is within their level of understanding or not.  To find out whether the targeted audiences are able to understand the content included in the storyline or not?  To gather views and suggestions of the audiences.  To study what steps should be taken to make the proposed telefilm more effective.

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As per the proposal submitted by Nirman Sanchar Sewa for producing and broadcasting the telefilm on ASRH, focus group discussion was conducted by Narrating storyline to five groups in different places of Lalitpur & Kathmandu district. FGD was conducted with the objectives of collecting views and insight for making the storyline and telefilm interesting and message orientated entertaining product. Each groups comprised of 10 to 18 participants aged between 12 to 19 years.

After narrating the storyline of telefilm to the participating groups and the facilitator and note taker gathered their inputs, comments and feedback using the FGD tools. Language did not create problems understanding the story to the participants. They felt the story line was realistic and were enthusiastic. Issues such as name of the telefilm, contents, style, ending were also widely discussed. The main objective of the FGD was to discuss as how the content in telefilm could be rendered most effective and to some extent, success was achieved in collecting views from the target groups.

Participants liked main plot of the story and expressed satisfaction on the selection of names of the main characters of the telefilm. The FGD of the telefilm on ASRH was facilitated by member representative from NHEICC, H4L and Nirman Sanchar Sewa.

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Adolescent Adolescent Group/School Total Male Female

Moonlight Academy, 8 8 16 Satdobato, Lalitpur

Little Star English School, 5 5 10 Thencho, Lalitpur

Little Star English School, 5 5 10 Thencho, Lalitpur

Nexus International Academy, 9 9 18 Pepsi Cola, Kathmandu

Godawari VDC, Godawari 5 6 10 Nahar (Slum Group)

Grand Total 32 32 64

Some of the comments, input and feedbacks were;

1. Messages seems effective for awareness 2. Entertaining and Educational 3. Encouraging and motivating for positive adolescent life. 4. All have to meliorate those people who are involved in bad habit. 5. If any problem occurred in the life must ask to the wise friend, elders and family members for help. 6. Parents must take responsibility of the children. 7. Karuna should have married Ujjwol sir 8. Gives lesson from characters moving in the wrong habits and feels positive when they changed their behavior 9. Adolescents should know what is right and what is wrong? 10. Awaran's father should not have mistreated Awaran and his brother instead he should have looked after them with love and care.

Some changes were made in the storyline based on the feedback from the FGD and got approved from the NHEICC.

3) Telefilm briefing meeting with NHEICC (29th July 2015)

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According to the TOR a half a day concept sharing meeting under the leadership of NHEICC was held on 29th July 2015 at summit hotel Kupundole. Director of NHEICC Health education Admnistrator and other representatives from concerned organizations and partners were involved in the meeting. From the H4L BCC Technial Advisor and from Nirman Sanchar Sewa Production Chief and other concerned technicians were also present in the meeting. In the following meeting from H4L presented the intentions and targeted groups of the TV serial. From Nirman Sanchar Sewa content specialist presented the content of the TV serial and the script writer read out the script of the TV serial. Then Production chief presented the different feedbacks and suggestions that he collected during his visit to different schools and colleges for the same purpose. Later he also described the audition for the selection of the characters and also the roles of the finalized characters.

The pre-production, production and post-production steps of production of the TV serial was also presented in the program. Health Administrator extended his positive views and opinions towards the TV serial's production. The names suggested by the targeted groups to whom approached were also discussed in the meeting. Finally the Director of NHEICC appreciated the works done by all concerned personals and also suggested to have name of the characters for the TV serial more contemporary and inclusive. Among various suggested names The "Smart Sathi" was approved for the telefilm.

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4) Location Scouting (1st to 3rd August 2015)

For the script of proposed TV serial understanding the feeling, language, habits of the targeted groups was found out to be quite important. So both the script writer and Production chief visited different locations in the districts of Chitwan, Nawalparasi and Dhadhing on 1st to 3rd August 2015. We met the who is the FCHV of malekhu, Dhading. She cooperated to meet with 10 adolescents separately. We observed their personal views about the story, their style, language, habit, interest. Same as we met the FCHV of Jutpani V.D.C in chitwan district. FCHV also cooperated to meet 10 adolescents in Jutpani VDC. We found some different habit, language and style between of Dhading and of Chitwan. We also met some youth in both districts. We also met local people and talked in friendly behavior. They expressed their views suggestions from their level of understanding. That visit was very fruitful to the script writer.

5) Content Identification (6th August) Our team including content specialist developed a "Content Document" for 12 episodes telefilm on 6th to 10th August 2015. This document included details contents for all 12 episodes and is based on the SOW. We took help the three reference materials to prepare the content document.

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Major contents for tele film:

The following contents were roofed in the script.

 Puberty – physical and emotional changes, menstruation, hygiene, wet dreams, masturbation.  Gender and Healthy Relationships (infatuation, love, affection, and other social relationships).  Life skills – Decision making, communication with parents or partners, problem solving, negotiation and coping with emotion, among others, dealing with websites/porn issue, depression.  Legal age of marriage (20yrs), importance of delaying marriage and delaying age at first pregnancy.  Sexuality concerns.  Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights.  School retention and re-enrollment.  Where to access adolescent-friendly information and health services.  Preparation for Parenthood.  Importance of birth spacing and contraception.  Care during pregnancy and after delivery (breastfeeding, Tetanus Toxoid).  Safe sex.  Nutrition (preventing anemia, balanced diet, harmful effects of junk food, hand washing, iron).  Preventing Sexual Harassment and Abuse.  Sexually Transmitted Infections (prevention, symptoms, treatment).  Risk Behaviors, HIV Prevention and Transmission.

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6) Content review (7th & 8th September 2015)

Prepared content document had send to BCC Technical Advisor/H4L on 7th & 8th September 2015 for review. We received back the content document with additional inputs from H4L and based on the input, we revised and submittedit to H4L for approval.

Later we got back the revised and approved content document and started scripting 12 episode incorporating ASRH messages.

*Content Document has already submitted.

7) Script writing (1st August 2015)

Script writer started writing the script on 1st August 2015. He wrote the script based on the approved storyline and content document. All 12 episodes scripts were completed on 31st August 2015. Process of writing the scripts and reviewing from content specialist had been going simultaneously.

8) Discussion on script with H4L (September 10 & 11, 2015) After completing the script writing, meeting in H4L was held on 10th & 11th September 2015. In the meeting, BCC Technical Advisor and Production Chief were involved. They went deeply through the script of 12 episodes. They discussed on contents, scenes, cutting, dialogues, names of character, behavior etc.

9) Prepared second draft script based on the feedback of the script discussion meeting.

The writer resurrected the scripts based on the feedback & comments of script discussion meeting on H4L. He re-wrote the episode 09 and made some changes on most episodes. Ending of the episodes was also changed. In the first draft Sneha would not go for abroad study for her boyfriend, but now it has been changed that she would go to the USA for study after encouraging her boyfriend to commit for further study.. Awaran was drug addict in first draft now he is not an addict in the second draft. He only disappeared by effect of fathers mistreating and Sneha's rejection. In some other episode's scenes and contents were also modified.

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The script review meeting has been formed representing; 1) Director, NHEICC, 2) from FHD, 3) from NHEICC, 4) NHEICC and 5) H4L.

The script review meeting initially was scheduled for 23rd & 24th of September at NHEICC. However, this schedule was disturbed due to the untimely death of We communicated with H4L for coordinating next date so that we could stick with the production schedule.

10) Shooting preparation workshop with artistes. (19th & 20th September 2015)

A two days' workshop was organized on 19th & 20th September 2015 at Indreni Complex, Newbaneshwor. Main objectives of the workshop were to orient the artistes on storyline, objective of the telefilm production, ASRH issues and make the artist comfortable to act in realistic manner so that it appeals young generation to watch the tele-drama. It was also assumed that after getting to know above things artist can understand his/her role and character and perform with feeling as a real character. First day of the workshop and from H4L were present. has shared his experience to the artistes. He encouraged for making their performance more interesting in the telefilm. has cleared that the artistes should try to be familiar with the script. He stressed that artistes should try to perform as a real character instead dramatic and that all should be involved in the project with full devotion. After tea break the rehearsal session started. On the rehearsal session, artistes practiced with the scripts and dialogue.

Nirman Sanchar Sewa contracted the artists with time-bound contracts and provided the scripts, and schedules to the artist. The shooting commenced from first week of October 2015.

Production Phase:

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 Shooting and reviewing the footage every day after pack up:

The Tele Serial shooting started in Kathmandu on 07th October 2015. Every day the technical team reviewed the footage after pack up to insure the quality. Despite the crisis in the country, shooting of "Smart साथी " (12 episodes telefilm on ASRH) was going on schedule. The team moved to Dhading & Chitwan district on November 15, 2015 for the field shooting.

Production Phase:

 Editing, mixing and other technical work:

Immediately after complete the shooting, the technical team seated on the editing table. They started editing, mixing and other technical work to give the complete shape of Tele Serial.

 Reviewing , Finalizing and Getting approval from NHEICC to air the Tele serial: The review meetings were organized in three phase. In first phase, 5 episodes were reviewed from NHEICC & FHD. Same as 4 episodes were reviewed in second phase and 3 episodes were in third phase. All review meeting were coordinated by H4L. Each episode of Smart Sathi had been re-edited thoroughly starting to end. (authorized person from H4L) was present in the studio during revisited every episode of

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the telefilm. All the episodes were finalized by incorporating the suggestions & feedback of review meeting and were again taken to NHEICC for approval before broadcasting.

 Started the promotion activities:

It was necessary to promote the Tele Serial to catch the maximum audiences. Target audiences focused promotional materials (two TV commercial & a print material) were developed and disseminate through TV channels and National Dailies before releasing and in-between time of releasing. Paper adverts started published each day in Kantipur National Daily 4 days before of the broadcasting day and 8 more days of the same day as tele-dram was being broadcasted. According to the SOW one promo was to be produced and broadcasted 12 times in each broadcasting day of tele-drama on the two TV channels mentioned above. But we developed 2 promos and broadcasted them approximately 8 to 10 times per day from 1st of January 2016 through central transmission of Nepal Television, NTV Plus & Image Channel. In addition we have promoted the tele-drama in Social Media such as Facebook and YouTube.

 Started broadcast of the serial:

The Tele Serial was broadcasted as per the time frame reflected on the revised schedule through NTV Plus and Image channel. According to SOW, proposed tele-drama had to be broadcasted for only two days in a week. However, "Smart Sathi" was being aired 6 days in a week through NTV Plus & Image Channel. Our broadcasting time on NTV Plus was on Friday at 7:00 PM, on Saturday at 11:30 &

on Sunday at 2:00 PM. Similarly through Image Channel on Friday at 6:30 PM, on Wednesday at 2:30 PM & on Thursday at 6:30 AM. The Telefilm broadcasting was delayed by a week from Image channel as Nepal Television's sensor board did not allow broadcasting any of the tele-serial on same day same time from other private television channels.

Even though this does not meet the requirement mentioned under the TOR (broadcasting on same day same time from two TV channels), It did not affect our targeted viewers, instead it had a wider reach as the episodes were repeated. This change was also communicated with NHEICC, which gave up positive reactions.

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1st Broadcasted Date & Time

EVERY FRIDAY EVERY FRIDAY Date Time Channel Date Time Channel 01/01/2016 7:00 PM NTV Plus 08/01/2016 6:30 PM Image Channel 08/01/2016 7:00 PM NTV Plus 15/01/2016 6:30 PM Image Channel 15/01/2016 7:00 PM NTV Plus 22/01/2016 6:30 PM Image Channel 22/01/2016 7:00 PM NTV Plus 29/01/2016 6:30 PM Image Channel 29/01/2016 7:00 PM NTV Plus 05/02/2016 6:30 PM Image Channel 05/02/2016 7:00 PM NTV Plus 12/02/2016 6:30 PM Image Channel 12/02/2016 7:00 PM NTV Plus 19/02/2016 6:30 PM Image Channel 19/02/2016 7:00 PM NTV Plus 26/02/2016 6:30 PM Image Channel 26/02/2016 7:00 PM NTV Plus 04/03/2016 6:30 PM Image Channel 04/03/2016 7:00 PM NTV Plus 11/03/2016 6:30 PM Image Channel 11/03/2016 7:00 PM NTV Plus 18/03/2016 6:30 PM Image Channel 18/03/2016 7:00 PM NTV Plus 25/03/2016 6:30 PM Image Channel

2nd Broadcasted Date & Time

EVERY SATURDAY EVERY WEDNESDAY Date Time Channel Date Time Channel 02/01/2016 11:30 AM NTV Plus 13/01/2016 2:30 PM Image Channel 09/01/2016 11:30 AM NTV Plus 20/01/2016 2:30 PM Image Channel 16/01/2016 11:30 AM NTV Plus 27/01/2016 2:30 PM Image Channel 23/01/2016 11:30 AM NTV Plus 03/02/2016 2:30 PM Image Channel 30/01/2016 11:30 AM NTV Plus 10/02/2016 2:30 PM Image Channel 06/02/2016 11:30 AM NTV Plus 17/02/2016 2:30 PM Image Channel 13/02/2016 11:30 AM NTV Plus 24/02/2016 2:30 PM Image Channel 20/02/2016 11:30 AM NTV Plus 02/03/2016 2:30 PM Image Channel 27/02/2016 11:30 AM NTV Plus 09/03/2016 2:30 PM Image Channel 05/03/2016 11:30 AM NTV Plus 16/03/2016 2:30 PM Image Channel 12/03/2016 11:30 AM NTV Plus 23/03/2016 2:30 PM Image Channel 19/03/2016 11:30 AM NTV Plus 30/03/2016 2:30 PM Image Channel

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3rd Broadcasted Date & Time

EVERY SUNDAY EVERY THURSDAY Date Time Channel Date Time Channel 03/01/2016 2:00 PM NTV Plus 14/01/2016 6:30 AM Image Channel 10/01/2016 2:00 PM NTV Plus 21/01/2016 6:30 AM Image Channel 17/01/2016 2:00 PM NTV Plus 28/01/2016 6:30 AM Image Channel 24/01/2016 2:00 PM NTV Plus 04/02/2016 6:30 AM Image Channel 31/01/2016 2:00 PM NTV Plus 11/02/2016 6:30 AM Image Channel 07/02/2016 2:00 PM NTV Plus 18/02/2016 6:30 AM Image Channel 14/02/2016 2:00 PM NTV Plus 25/02/2016 6:30 AM Image Channel 21/02/2016 2:00 PM NTV Plus 03/03/2016 6:30 AM Image Channel 28/02/2016 2:00 PM NTV Plus 10/03/2016 6:30 AM Image Channel 06/03/2016 2:00 PM NTV Plus 17/03/2016 6:30 AM Image Channel 13/03/2016 2:00 PM NTV Plus 24/03/2016 6:30 AM Image Channel 20/03/2016 2:00 PM NTV Plus 31/03/2016 6:30 AM Image Channel

HD Mastering & Produced 500 copies DVD: After the completion of the broadcast from all the media as mentioned in the SOW, Nirman Sanchar Sewa produced the DVD media for information distribution of the 12 episodes of ASRH tele serial. 500 very attractive DVDs were produced and handed over. Hence, completing the list of deliverables by the agency.

Monitoring: Nirman Sanchar Sewa regularly monitored Tele Serial airing and try to get feedback from audiences via email, Facebook and text messages. Positive responses came from all over the country regarding the ASRH tele serial.

Conclusion: Nirman Sanchar Sewa was keenly dedicated to perform the ASRH Tele Serial Production & Airing activities in given time line with good quality. This organization accomplished each and every activities with close coordination of H4L, National Health Education, Information and Communication Center & FHD. The Tele Serial was the landmark on ASRH IEC/BCC intervention and it became popular within the adolescents and young. We hope it raised awareness and changed behavior of adolescents and youth. Since this tele-drama (Smart Sathi) got popular we suggest to re-broadcast through National Transmission of Nepal Television. This will give opportunity for more viewers to watch the tele-drama.

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