Equal Community Foundation is creating a paradigm shift through a unique approach—starting with boys. While many organizations in India are working to protect women and girls, most focus on women’s empowerment. By working with boys and young men, ECF tackles gender-based violence at its root cause.
ECF’s innovative Action for Equality program trains male professionals with a background in youth work and places them as mentors in low-income communities. Over a period of several months, the mentors deliver a unique gender-equality curriculum to help boys discover their critical role in advancing the rights of women and girls. The boys receive coaching and guidance to address their own prejudices and behavior, and take part in trainings that teach them to lead community awareness projects.
Once training is complete, the boys take collective action, launching campaigns and events to reduce violence and discrimination in the community. They continue to engage with ECF through its alumni program, which allows the organization to remain in regular contact with graduates, sustain their positive behavior change, and provide opportunities for them to volunteer.
In 2017, ECF scaled up its model and expanded to West Bengal, partnering with 12 community-based organizations and training them to deliver the program throughout their communities.