MALE FOCUSED PROGRAMMES:Experiences

Conscientizing Male Adolescents Programme (Calabar)

Began in 1995 with a pilot project involving 25 boys recruited from 3 secondary schools in Calabar

It graduated approximately 2,000 men and boys in its first 6 years

In 2002 alone about 600 boys enrolled in its programme

ObjectivesCMA seeks to foster critical thinking skills

and by so doing challenge gender norms and sexist behaviours, and increase awareness of gender based oppression and equal rights

AudienceBoys between ages 14-20 who

demonstrate qualities of leadership and intelligence in the school setting

ImplementationUses structured dialogue- Paulo FreireOperated by male community membersSome alumni adolescents also lead dialogueThe curricula is structured into 2 levels:The 1st is a weekly 2 hr meetings at secondary

schools and covers the following topics:Fundamental concepts of biological

differences between sexes, gender oppression, GBV as both personal and social phenomenon; men’s responsibility in sexual relationships

Contd…

Graduation from this level moves one to level 2 which takes place in a monthly one day meeting in a hotel in Calabar

Topic covered include:

Communication skills, logical thinking methods, critical and anti sexist introduction to

Nigerian society, world history and human rights

Contd…

The programme has expanded to include counseling services , community advocacy and a third section for university youths

EVALUATIONPositive change

Experiences from South Africa

In South Africa context the role model for many boys is a gangster

To address this, the Department of Social Development in the Western Cape in collaboration with other organizations developed a pilot programme for boys as part of their family strengthening initiative.

This was implemented in schools and this programme was made the part of the school curriculum.

South Africa

Psycho-educational groups were formed in schools and the facilitators conducted six sessions with each group on the following:

Me in the world: Who is important to me? Understanding me, understanding others Raak ways! Men and women are equal but

different I can do it different - me as a son, brother,

husband, father My future story- how I want to make a

difference as a father The rules I choose to live by: my Value Shield

Challenges faced

lack of skilled male facilitators -female facilitators were found to be less effective in terms of reaching young men

lack of suitable role models -while developing programmes for boys and young men.

Programme Achievements Programme was effective and helped

participants to identify with themselves and their surroundings.

The participants became more confident to speak on issues of sexuality.

The girls showed appreciation for the different, more ‘mature’ way in which boys responded to them

Participants changed their attitudes in dealing with younger children; became more caring and generally showed greater empathy for others.

Contd….

After the initial pilot scheme, the programme now runs in 12 schools in Cape Town.

Re-enforcement materials for teachers and training for social workers

Experience from SwedenMen for Gender Equality’s

Programme for Younger Male Teenagers

Men for Gender Equality is a small NGO in Sweden

Membership of men and womenIt has a programme called ‘Brorsan’

meaning ‘bro’‘bro’ is mostly targeted at boys of

immigrant families

SwedenThe programme is run in Junior High

Schools for 13-14 year-old boys.

It consists of groups of 12 boys who meet once a week for two hours over 10 weeks

The sessions are run by a facilitator who is a staff of the school and who has received training on facilitation by staff from Men for Gender Equality.

Sweden

The group sessions allow the boys to work with their peers on self reflection, on themes such as:

Relations between boys and girls Identity, getting to know yourself Love and sexuality Violence Power relations and gender

IndiaMen Working to Stop Violence

Against Women, (MASVAW) Uttar Pradesh, India

Produced a video is called: MASVAW: Building a people’s movement against violence against women in North India.

The video shows some of the activities of MASVAW and interviews of some people from the media, women’s organizations, lawyers and boys and girls.

India

Was started by a group of concerned men and boys, who collectively felt responsible for the situation of the inequalities that women face and decided to bring about a change within themselves and in other men and boys.

Their scope sooner expanded to include both women and children

Objectives of MASVAW

Increasing awareness among men and boys about the different forms of violence against women and girls as a larger social issue

Motivating men and boys to shun violence, protest against violence, support survivors and provide new role models

India

MASVAW has young boys and men as members along with adult men from academia, media, lawyers and other professions.

MASVAW is working in 40 districts in India and comprises of 300 members.

There are youth groups who are monitoring violence in their villages.

Impact

men have started raising the issues in local elected governing bodies at the village level meetings

and have initiated taking legal actions against the perpetrators of violence against women

In universities and various colleges, students have started watch-groups on violence against women.

In particular, students are raising the issue of sexual harassment.

ImplementationMASVAW has networks of young boys and

young men in three other geographical areas

In Varanasi – The group is creating awareness about violence against women.

They held a Candle Light March and a road show to attract the media.

As a result, they have seen changes in how the media reports on the issue

Implementation

In Lucknow – Performances on gender issues are done in the schools and colleges for children of classes 6-12. They also try to reduce eve teasing of girls in schools and colleges.

In Gorakhpur – The group works in rural areas. They identified local gathering places and hangouts where they could work on this issue. They also focused on eve teasing of girls.

They use flash cards to work with children and use street plays and puppet shows to generate discussion and awareness in the community.

Programme Achievements

members of the campaign feel that being part of this campaign has helped them personally by providing them space to understand their emotions.

There has been a qualitative change in the relationship with their wives and other members of the household.

They are now helping their mothers and sisters in household work. Some of them are learning to cook.

Experience from BrasilPromundo is a Brazilian NGO working to

promote gender equity and reduce violence against children, youth and women.

Programme H: An Integrated Approach to Engage Young Men in Gender Equality and Violence Prevention

It built around a series of training manuals developed for health educators, teachers and/or other professionals and volunteers who work with or want to work with young men.

Focus

It promotes the positive aspects of masculinity,

encourages men’s participation in sexual and reproductive health,

engages young men in questioning violence against women (and between men) and

promotes their involvement as fathers and in care giving.

Components

The initiative has five components: (1) workshops to engage young men in

questioning rigid gender norms; (2) community campaigns led by young men

themselves to promote non-violent and gender equitable attitudes;

(3) efforts to engage health and other community services;

(4) advocacy at the national level to promote the inclusion of men and masculinities in gender equality policy; and

(5) impact evaluation to assess the impact of the efforts and to use these results for further advocacy.

Impact Results from the Programme H Evaluation Study

Reported changes in styles of interacting with other men: movement toward more cooperative, less aggressive interactions

Ability to discuss sexuality openly (male and female) – spoke to female partners – they said sex was only about doing it and now we are talking about what was pleasurable.

Recognition of women as having sexual rights, sexual agency – women had the same sexual drive.

Worry about own health needs, HIV testing (male and female) – men started asking about her health.

Delayed initiation of sexual activity with current partner – men started saying that relationships are about much more than sexual activity.

Higher rates of condom use with girlfriends and wives and lower rates of STI symptoms.

Programme M: Bringing Young Men and Women Together to Promote Gender Equality

Recognized that men and women are involved in constructing gender norms and rigid norms about manhood

Developed a programme with groups of young women and men working together to promote gender equality

Through participatory workshops, young women and men become community promoters, working in mixed-sex groups, designing educational materials and community campaigns.

Programme M

These groups, called Youth for Gender Equality developed radio soap operas, posters, and comic books which they taken to schools, community dances, bars, nightclubs, beauty salons and other spaces where young men and women hang out.

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