Durex’s The Birds and Bees Talk (TBBT), a life skills program by Reckitt, is set to launch Asia’s first Consent Café at the Hornbill Festival 2024, a major cultural event in Northeast India. The festival, marking its 25th edition, will take place from December 1 to 10 at Kisama Heritage Village, Kohima, drawing over 150,000 visitors. This pioneering initiative aims to spark transformative conversations on crucial social issues like consent, inclusion, protection, awareness, and equity, addressing the rising concerns about gender-based violence in India.
The Consent Café will provide an immersive space blending art, light, and music to help attendees reflect on the importance of consent in fostering healthy relationships. In addition to this, the festival will feature a Music Carnival with performances from local artists, the launch of an AI-powered WhatsApp chatbot to educate youth on consent and life skills, and a painting competition for young artists, all aimed at reinforcing the program’s key themes.
TBBT’s participation underscores Reckitt’s commitment to integrating crucial health and social conversations into cultural platforms, empowering youth across India with critical knowledge. Reckitt, alongside Plan India, has reached over 4 million young people across 10 states with its educational initiatives.
Gaurav Jain, Executive Vice President of Reckitt South Asia, emphasized the significance of the partnership: “At Reckitt, we believe that knowledge is the foundation of empowerment, and through initiatives like TBBT, we’re shaping a generation of informed, inclusive, and empowered youth.”
The festival’s celebration of Northeast India’s cultural heritage will be complemented by modern values, creating a unique blend of tradition and progress aimed at fostering positive change in society.
