MEN AS CARING PARTNERS

MEN AS CARING PARTNERS

A. INTRODUCTION

This project aims at enhancing understanding and importance of gender equality to men, ensuring their effective participation and involvement in family wellbeing, meeting specific male sensitive needs and concerns, especially with regard to their sexual and reproductive health, and at promoting equal opportunities to men and women in the development process.

The Specific Objectives of the project are inter alia to:

· Foster Constructive Male Involvement in Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights and ,

· Encourage Men’s Positive Engagement as Fathers and Carers,

Men as Caring Partners (MACP )project has a Multi-Pronged intervention Approach to promote knowledge about the prevailing situation of men’s involvement in family matters, sensitize them to support family members effectively, strengthen advocacy among community members, policy makers and the media for the creation of the appropriate institutional support to enhance men’s participation in the family. The following intervention approaches are:

1. Community Outreach and Social Mobilization Campaign

2. Recreation- based programme

3. Advocacy Campaign

 LAUNCHING 

The launching ceremony of the MACP Project was conducted by the Minister of Gender Equality, Child Development and Family Welfare, in the presence of the Deputy Prime Minister at Trefles

Community Centre, Rose Hill on the 9th October 2017. More than 300 men and women in the region of Trefles participated in the ceremony. The messages from the Minister of Gender Equality, Child Development and Family welfare and the Deputy Prime Minister were primarily to urge more male participation and involvement in the promotion of family welfare and to particularly sensitise the audience on serious causes of family disharmony, like alcohol and drug consumption and denial of men in their responsibility as fathers, husbands, brothers and partners. The chairman of APD explained on the rationale, objectives and activities planned for the project. The sessions were supported by video shows and slide projections.

Prior to the launching of the project two sensitisation sessions was organised for more than 150 men and women in the locality on the 3rd and 9th October 2017 on the issue of gender and male involvement and responsibility in the family and also to galvanise support for the launching of the project.

BEHAVIOURAL CHANGE COMMUNICATION

Behavioural Change Communication sessions were organised on the 7th November 2017 at 1.30 pm, 14th November at 5.30 pm and 7th December at 5.30 pm for 42, 45 and 35 participants respectively who were 80% males. Some participants brought together their spouse and this helped to initiate lively discussions on male participation in household chores. The sessions were facilitated by Mr Y. Bisessur, Educator, Mr M. Mohit, Sociologist, Mr Rawa, educator and the Chairman of APD, a SRH specialist.

During discussions it was revealed that despite the projected macho image of men in public, men do perform household works and look after the children, but do not speak openly with other males. Societal disapproval of men doing traditionally “women” works is revealed to be persistent and is an important barrier for men to open up in public. Some young men voiced the importance of collaborative effort of men and women in child rearing and pleaded for greater support from the older generation who very often sticks to traditions and cultural beliefs. The sessions proved very positive in attempting to change mentality and misconceptions that perpetuate gender stereotypes.

The sessions were supported by four video shows and print materials on male responsibility, domestic violence and gender based stereotypes. After the educational sessions, resource persons

conducted individual counselling sessions to a total of 7 men and 3 women, mostly on cases of family disturbances due to alcohol and drug consumption, and ill-treatment of children on their parents.

RECREATION- BASED PROGRAMME

The recreation based programme has been disturbed due to New Year festivities and adverse climatic conditions in the beginning of this year. This activity has been scheduled to be held on Friday 23rd November at 5.30 PM, on Saturday 24th February at 6.00 PM and on Sunday 25 February at 9.30 AM at Trefles Community Centre. Fixtures and announcement through posters have been affixed at various strategic points and at the Centre and the recruitment of competitors is in progress.

On Tuesday 16th January 2018, a training programme for 15 men and 4 women was organized at the Centre on Communication and Counselling. These trained participants will organize peer to peer counseling and sharing of information sessions during competitions in January 2018.

50 T-Shirts with messages have already been produced and will be distributed during competition. Slogans on T shirts were pilot tested and agreed by members of APD and Option 1as shown in Annex 3, was chosen.

ADVOCACY

Members of Managing Committee of APD, supported by members Trefles Community Organizations developed a concept note on the project and this was shared with the written and spoken press, and community leaders and stakeholders in Trefles.

The Chairman of APD, members of the APD managing committee networked with the press and organized 4 live programmes in creole and 1 in Bhojpuri on the issue of Male Responsibility and Gender at the MBC radio and TV, Radio Plus and Top FM on 13th and 20th November, 19th December 2017. On 15th September 2017, the Chairman of APD was interviewed by Le Mauricien Newspaper on the Men as caring Partners project and he explained on the rationale of involving men in promoting women empowerment and gender equality. Resource persons who participated in the Bhojpuri programme were an educator Ms. Anju Rawa, a social worker Ms. Mira Nowbuth, and APD Board Member Mr. Y Bisessur. A private e-TV Channel documented on the programme in November 2017,

interviewed participants at educational sessions and resource persons and the programme was released through the internet, and which received very positive feedbacks and likes. In addition, a Website on APD and Male Responsibility has been recently developed and is accessible to all.