Total number of AFE participants increases to 3400

With the completion of the latest cycle of Action for Equality – Graduate Programme, the total number of young men that we have worked with has reached 3400. Out of the these 1710 men have graduated from the programme and more than 700 of them continue to volunteer with us.

This means that the resources to mobilise communities to end violence and discrimination against women have multiplied significantly. On a weekly basis, these participants are gradually recognising their responsibility and are taking actions that are contributing to the solution.

They are implementing these solutions in their personal lives and are creating awareness about them amongst their peers and other community members.

The topics they have addressed so far through community action events include:

  • role of men in a child’s development
  • effects of domestic violence and how it can be prevented
  • need for equal workload distribution at home and outside amongst men and women
  • need for child marriage prevention and men’s role in it

Understanding and preventing street sexual harassment was the topic that the graduates of the latest cycle addressed. The events were divided in three parts:

  1. understanding what is street sexual harassment; and how we don’t take it seriously by calling it ‘eve-teasing’.
  2. conducting an opinion poll with women to understand their experiences of street sexual harassment
  3. participants making a commitment not to participate in, support or encourage acts of harassment.

We are inspired by the commitment these participants demonstrate and can see that more and more men are becoming a part of the solution rather remaining a part of the problem.

You can catch a glimpse of the latest action events in the photographs below.

Women sharing their experiences through the opinion poll in Ramtekdi community.
Women sharing their experiences through the opinion poll in Ramtekdi community.
Women and girls participating in the discussion facilitated by the graduates of the programme in Vikas Nagar community.
Women and girls participating in the discussion facilitated by the graduates of the programme in Vikas Nagar community.
Women and young girls participating in the opinion poll in Bhim Nagar community.
Women and young girls participating in the opinion poll in Bhim Nagar community.