Outreach Work extends the significant shelter and services of the Humsafar Trust beyond the four walls of The Humsafar Centre's Santa Cruz-based physical structure. Care and support, which is so vital to any marginalized community, is provided, along with information, acceptance, awareness, and direction that they may otherwise lack. It is through outreach work that the MSM community is really given a shape, size, and form, for it is through the presence of Humsafar outreach workers that MSM are allowed to think of themselves as a community. It is only through this process of identification and self-awareness that empowerment and action necessary for combating stigma and discrimination or HIV/AIDS and other health problems can be realized.

Out reach workers are recruited by a rigorous three-tired procedure. The administrator puts up a notice advertising for the post. The existing ORWs spread the word on their sites. After receiving all the applications, HST begins the recruitment process. Applicants are called for a written test. The written test tests their knowledge in basic issues such as HIV/AIDS etc. As ORWs have to fill their daily out reach forms, it is necessary that they can write at least in one regional language. The written test is followed by a group discussion. The GD focuses on their skills of public speaking and their communication. ORWs have to work in field and its imperative that they have good communication skills to be able to motivate clients for HIV test, create awareness about HIV etc.

Those selected in written exams and GD are then called for an interview. The interview lasts for about 15-20 minutes. Some of the parameters in the interview are to check what is the motivation of the participant for the job, how well he knows the MSM community, is he ok with the working hours, his comfort levels with the community and his own sexuality.They are told at the very outset that they cannot get clients by giving them money, by having sex with them, not their relatives/friends and not by force.

The final stage is an interview with the chairman. It is more of an informal chat where the selected candidate is given an opportunity to interview the interviewers and give his feedback on the recruitment process. Once appointed, the ORWs go through an intensive three-day training program. The program is designed to provide them theoretical and practical inputs that would benefit their work.

Outreach starts at 7.00 p.m. As soon as HST outreach worker reaches the assigned beat / site he starts interacting with regular MSM clients / groups, distribute condoms and remind them about their regular health check up. HST outreach worker work with different MSM identities on the same beat. Hence lot of time HST ORW needs to relate with the group as per their traits. During the interaction with the regular MSM clients, an ORW also need to keep an eye on new person visiting the site for the first time. Once the ORW notice there is new guy, he makes sure to get detached from the regular clients group and approach this new client with Ice breaking conversation (What's the time? Are you _____? Your face looks so similar to my friend _______?). ORW gives nothing but self-introduction in the first ice-breaking meeting and assures the person to meet next time on the same beat again. It's a very difficult task, which an outreach worker has to complete because HST outreach worker shifts clients initial sexual attraction in to nice warm friendship, which is essential for strong rapport building. Outreach work continue till 11.00 p.m. Daily reporting for all the HST outreach worker start from 4.00 p.m. to 6.00 p.m. that includes submitting daily outreach form, condoms collection and feedback about beat.

Once the client becomes comfortable and starts interacting, HST outreach workers starts providing him information about several topics such as Humsafar Trust support system, community workshops, issues about his sexuality, safe sex practices, HIV/AIDS and STIs. )

As the field outreach worker begins observation of their "beat" for several initial days, they will identify individuals that might benefit from Humsafar succor and services. After the ice is broken through small talk (i.e. asking for the time, etc.), the field outreach worker might begin speaking to the individual about anything more substantial, ranging from societal or familial pressures relating to their sexual identity, symptoms that could be related to known STIs, knowledge and/or fears about HIV/AIDS or other psychological, societal and health issues. Basically, in this context, the outreach workers serve as an extending voice and arm of the services offered to individuals that then take the next step of visiting the Humsafar Centre.


Process of Outreach

Outreach data

Total: Three lac sixty four thousand nine hundred and thirty six

Condom distribution data

Total: Thirty six lac ninety three thousand five hundred and seven