“ MEN AS PARTNERS” TO BOYS AND GIRLS AS PARTNERS: TOWARDS POSITIVE GENDER ROLE FORMATION

1. “MEN AS PARTNERS” TO BOYS AND GIRLS AS PARTNERS: TOWARDS POSITIVE GENDER ROLE FORMATION

2. Men as Partners History • Historically EngenderHealth has focused on women’s sexual reproductive health issues. • Around 1994 (ICPD) we realized that we needed to have a program that would work with men and boys to reduce the spread of gender based violence and HIV. • EngenderHelth and PPASA then worked together to form the Men as partners program and curriculum in 1995. • The program was started in South Africa as a pilot working with men’s sectors in the country. • Realizing the fact that working with men and boys through transformative approaches would bring more impact to women’s lives and creating healthy relationships.

3. “Act Like a Man” • Don’t cry ; Be strong • Don’t ask for help • Have many sexual partners • Take risks • Violence is an acceptable way to solve conflict

4. MAP Programming Framework Men as Clients Men as Agents of Change Men as Supportive Partners

5. Implementing an Ecological Model • Small group workshops • Community Events and Marches • National www.iamapartner.org Campaign • Working with Artists • Developing IEC Materials • Supporting Local Institutions • Improving Health Services Media Coverage • Policies and legislation

6. Program Challenges • Transformative programming requires significant time, effort, and support. • Need to take this work to scale within the public & private sectors. • Need to work with men addressing broader socio-economic conditions. • Individual change visible, but can we demonstrate societal change? • Realizing a need to work with a younger age group in order to create early intervention during the time gender norms are formed instead of dealing with them later when negative ones are already established and instilled.

7. Engender Health's MAP work beyond South Africa • MAP Programming in 17 countries including Botswana, Cameroon, Ethiopia, Ghana, Guinea, Kenya, Namibia, Nigeria, Swaziland, Tanzania and Uganda. • OGAC Male Gender Norms Initiative - Providing technical support to PEPFAR implementing Organizations in Ethiopia, Namibia, and Tanzania. • Co-chair of Men Engage – a global alliance of organizations working with men and boys for gender equality: www.menengage.org

8. S-cage Initiative • S- cage stands for School and community action for Gender Equality. • The initiative seeks to engage young adolescents from the age from 10 to 18 years of age, both girls and boys in the issues of gender and adolescent health. • Using the already existing MAP program to modify and adjust it to suit the abovementioned age group

9. Development and Issues adolescents face • Psychosocial crisis: Identity vs. roleconfusion. (vulnerable) transformation. • The adolescent is newly concerned with how they appear to others. A focus on self image start to build, and a need to please others increases e.g. peers, family, teacher, community. • The main question at this time though is “Who am I, and what is my goal in life?

10. SomeIssues and concerns adolescents have Transition from childhood to adulthood: • Changes not only physical, but psychological, social and mental development. • Mental disorders: Depression, 2/3rds of adolescent deaths are due to accidents or suicide. More boys tend to result to suicide, because they can’t cope with the mounting pressure and expectations. With the gender socialization playing a role e.g. a boy is strong and doesn’t fear death, must be brave and not cry. • Dealing with increasingly complex decisions . • Mounting pressure from peers and everyday life. (smoking, drinking, stealing, fighting and sexual activities).

11. Youth voices • They need to have adults listen to their needs, respect and not dictate how they should live their lives. • Youth would like to be involved in forming programs and policies that will focus on their age group. • Love to be given a chance to further their education and elders should know the importance of education. • Need to be treated with love and respect. • They would love to be shown appreciation. • Would like to have their own service centers that understand their needs and that are youth friendly.

12. Health issues • Girls face more chances of HIV infection, coerced sexual activities and rape due to gender inequality and low socio status in the society. • Most adolescent pregnancies are unwanted and many abortions are undertaken by this group, including unsafe abortions, sometimes causing death. • Early marriage limits girls’ opportunities to receive health service, negotiate safe sex and family planning. • Often girls are expected to be involved with older partners and expected to give birth during youth which affects their health and education.

13. Health Issues • Adolescent girls are more likely to experience complications during labor. • Due to gender socialization boys are encouraged to indulge in risky behaviors that put them the girls at risk. • Many boys are unable to receive health services due to negative gender norms emphasizing strength and seeing health institutions as places for women/girls and not men/boys. • Very few health services are male friendly, this also prevents males from using health services as they should.

14. Education Issues • Girls find themselves leaving school early, due to gender inequality norms that forces them to early marriage, child birth, increased domestic chores and migration for work. • Schools become more unsafe for young girls as they mature. • Social gender norms don’t emphasize the need for young girls to be educated. • Child headed families are increasing due to the spread of H.I.V and more adolescent youth have to make ends meet for the family. • Limited sexual reproductive health education for especially young girls limits them from making informed decisions and choices around SRH issues and family planning. • Due to insufficient education adolescents find themselves having to do unsatisfactory low paying jobs due to not having skills.

15. How MAP S-Cage initiative works with adolescents • We have focused group sessions, debates and dialogues in order to know their feelings, needs and thoughts various issues. • Carry out MAP workshops, using age appropriate language informing youth of their rights and services available to them. • Co organize MAP events targeted at their age group together with them. • Use edutainment e.g. Theatre pieces, music, poetry and visual art to send messages. • Develop MAP IEC material targeted at the age group with positive messages. • Create adult and youth discussions with encouraged free expression. • Involving teachers and parents in our interventions. • Provide space where youth can have support groups and weekly/monthly debates and meetings on issues they are facing.

16. Conclusion and Recommendations • We need programs and policies focused on the group between 10 and 14. • Make rural areas a priority as many urban based programs/projects don’t reach this group. • Treat the group with respect and motivate their participation and contribution. • More research is needed to articulate specific and unique needs and challenges faced by the group between the above mentioned age group. • Involve the adolescents in the initial steps of program development to ensure their contribution and interest. • Encourage good relationships between youth and adults e.g. students and the governing bodies.

17. Recommendations • Build youth friendly strategies that will deal with the current issues. • Make sure there’s a gender balance in the programming to ensure that we don’t perpetuate more division and rivalry between boys and girls, but still with a distinctive focus on the girl child. • Create impact orientated interventions coupled with M & E in order to find out the impact and effect of the interventions. • Build good relations between boys and girls, by emphasizing the power of unity and equal treatment of both girls and boys. • Use already existing programs to suit the age group (Age appropriateness)

18. I thank you.Amesekenalou