Brothers raising their voice in support of continuing education of their sisters.
Increased accessibility of girls over mobile phones earlier controlled by brothers.
Brothers supporting their sisters in taking part in sporting activities and helping them learn cycling and motorcycle.
Young men assuming responsibility for child care and domestic work
Young men sharing among their peers about having closer, more trusting relationships with their partners.
These are some of the gender and sexuality related changes brought about by the Yuva Samanta ki Ore programme that worked with young men and boys for introducing new social norms. It increased their knowledge about reproductive and sexual health and rights, brought about changes in gender related roles at home and in the community and increased the participation of young men and boys in bringing about norm-change in the community The programme was implemented with partner organisations Vikalp and Manjari Sansthan in the districts of Udaipur and Bundi in Rajasthan.
Sessions were organised with adolescent boys on issues of sexual and reproductive health and rights, gender and masculinities in local schools and groups of young men were formed in the community.
The interactions brought about changes in gender and sexuality related knowledge and attitudes among the youngsters in the target areas. Myths around sexual and reproductive health of adolescents related to issues such as menstruation, night ejaculation and bodily changes were addressed. The programme helped break the silence and taboos around issues of SRHR and led to improvements in the health of adolescents.
It also increased the participation of young men and boys in developing new, more gender equal social norms in a highly patriarchal society. The intervention has had significant impacts in challenging the norm of early marriage of girls, greater male involvement in domestic and care work with a change in attitude from ‘helping’ to assuming responsibility for household work, reduced restrictions on the mobility and autonomy of girls and prevention of violence against them with boys and men speaking out against harassment to make public places safer.
Hundreds of young male volunteers termed ‘Yuva Saathi’ (Young Friend) who were part of the intervention continue to work as change-makers in their communities, demonstrating the possibility of improving gender relations and the health and well-being of girls and women through a programmatic intervention with young men and boys.
