Fifteen modules, two hours after school

Hello. My name is Bhautik. I live with my parents, and I am very curious to learn new things — general knowledge especially. Whenever I have nothing to do I pick up the phone and go looking through GK topics.

I want to talk about a programme that came to our village.

Hardikbhai Bhevaliya from Hariraj Charitable Trust visited, and told me and several of my friends about the Gender Equitable Boys programme. It had learning and activities in it, and it was something new, so we came regularly. Every day after school we set aside two hours. The time flew. We learnt, and we enjoyed learning, and there was a lot of fun in it.

This programme is like a friend who shows you the right direction.

What it covered

There are fifteen modules and it ran for around four months.

It starts with what gender actually is. Then violence against girls and women in society, and where that comes from. One of the main reasons is boys — nobody talks to boys about gender. Because of that gap in education, violence against women is still here and inequality is still here.

We were taught about that root cause, and about sexuality, relationships and human rights, among other things.

What changed

Going through this programme brought a real change to me and to my friends.

Earlier I never helped my mother. I used to get angry with her. I would refuse when she asked for help. Now I help her, and my brothers and sisters too. My friends and my family have noticed, and they are happy about it and say so. My friends are doing the same. We often talk now about supporting and respecting the women in our families and around us.

That is how the foundation course has affected our village, and the boys in it particularly.

If I graduate from this programme, I am confident I will keep practising it and keep telling my friends to respect women and understand their value in society. I am keen to take part in the next programme, Action for Equality.

I am thankful to Hardikbhai and to Hariraj Charitable Trust for bringing this to our village, and for the changes it made in us.