Raise 300 boys in India to be gender-equitable

Thank you for your continued support and contribution to ECF’s Action for Equality programme committed to raise Gender Equitable Boys in India.

At ECF, during the period September 2018 - November 2018, we have been implementing Action for Equality (AfE) programme cycle 22. Each programme cycle lasts for 4 months or 15 weeks. In this programme cycle 22, we implemented AfE Foundation Programme and Leadership Programme. 

• ECF team reached out and enrolled 274 new boys across 20 communities in the first stage of AfE programme i.e Foundation Programme. 
• Similary, a total of 172 boys from 18 communities, graduates from cycle 21 Action Programme enrolled in the final -third stage, i.e. Leadership Programme. 
• AfE cycle 22 will be completed at the end of December 2018. We will share an update on the graduates in the next progress report.

Few of the key programme highlights during this period are as below:

• New project communities: ECF has taken up two new communities in Pune, India and also started the AfE intervention from this cycle 22. We therefore have enrollment from all 20 project communities from this cycle.

• Leadership Programme Consultation with the Participants: In the previous cycle 22, ECF completed a pilot of 30 week Leadership Programme instead of a 15 week programme curriculum. A total of 13 Leadership Programme graduates from 8 communities participated in the consultation. The objective of this consultation was to discuss their experience of attending the 30 week programme, receive their feedback and suggestions on the sessions conducted by the mentors.Participants actively engaged in the discussion and shared their points with clarity and confidence. The final changes to the curriculum by the team is in progress.

• AfE Foundation Programme: After the mobilisation activity in the communities were completed and 274 new boys were enrolled, Programme mentors started with the Foundation Programme training sessions across the project communities. Mentors and participants conducted open discussions in order to share their expectations from the programme. 
• During AfE FP training sesions, participants for the first time were able to learn, share and safely discuss their experiences and questions around the following themes: Human Rights, Gender, Power and Equality, Boyhood to Manhood, Sexuality, Relationships and Violence.

• AfE Leadership Programme: Similarly, the 172 enrolled participants in the Leadership Programme attended sessions on developing and practicing their skills to take gender equitable actions. For example: Influencing, communication and campaigning skills. 
• During these training sessions, LP participants discussed various themes and started taking actions within their families and communities.Themes covered under influencing skills are: team building, dealing with opposition, conflict resolution and advocacy. 

Action events conducted by the participants in their communities mark the completion of each programme cycle. These events are based on various themes on gender and to prevent gender based violence in the communities. Hence, the team is currently focussed on completing the final training sessions of both Foundation and Leadership Programme and support the participants in conducting the Action Events. 

In this cycle, we encourage and look forward to our participants conducting Action events in the communities at the end of December 2018. Previously, ECF team would provide themes and specific actions to be conducted at the end of every module. From this cycle, we have encouraged the boys to plan and take actions by themselves and mentors have only guided them to complete them successfully.

Few examples of actions taken by the Foundation Programme participants at the end of each training modules are:

• sharing information on gender based violence and discrimination with peers in school
• holding informal discussions around peer pressure and toxic masculinity with their friends in communities, families and schools
• willingness to discuss about sharing household chores with parents and taking responsibilities at home 

We thank you for your contribution and supporting our mission, to raise every boy in India to be Gender Equitable.