Programmes

Young men, of 18 to 20 years from colleges and universities, are being engaged and mentored long-term by MAVA team on a wide range of gender and sexuality matters. Using out-of-the box methods like interactive workshops, street-theatre, film-screenings, folk media, wall newspapers and social media, these mentored men have been reaching out to thousands of peers standing up for women’s right to safety. The program has been up-scaled to over 9 districts of Maharashtra, including Mumbai and reaching out to also adolescent boys in communities. MAVA has collaborated with local educational institutions and civil society organizations in implementing the Gender Sensitization and Mentoring initiative in these districts.

The program has been further advanced in September 2020 to 3 new States of India – Assam, Gujarat and Karnataka with a new set of 100 young men being mentored by MAVA and collaborating partner organizations. They will be, in coming 3 years, upskilled and enabled to reach out and ignite thousands of young men in their neighbourhood and in their Region.

SamaBhav (meaning equanimity) is a unique 2-day film festival on Gender Diversity, Masculinity and Relationships that has been travelling to cities and districts across India. Over 13,000 youth from Universities, Colleges and Civil Society Bodies in 43 cities and 15 districts across India, 6 cities beyond borders have been reached out in the last 5 editions of SamaBhav through engaging conversations post screening of a wide range of national and international films.

MAVA brings out Purushspandana (meaning men’s expressions) - an annual magazine in Marathi. Published since 1996, the magazine is first of its kind containing short stories, first -person accounts, interviews, poems, analytical articles and media-trends that voice sentiments of men.

MAVA, in the past many years, have brought out the special issues of Purushspandana on themes associated with Relationships – from Friendship to Sexuality, From Family and Relationships; Caste and Relationships to Health and Relationships; Media to Breaking of Gender Binaries. While majority of the writers are male, there are women and non-binary individuals whose contributions are also sought over the past few years – we feel that Men should also be reading and introspecting what women and non-binary persons are expressing. The writers hail from varied professions and from various age-groups and social strata; majority being young-middle aged educated middle class. It thus provides fresh insights in understanding men’s attitudes and in ways to challenge and change them. 33% of women readers buy copies of the special magazine with the hope that men in their lives would read and self-introspect.

MAVA has brought out a book in English (titled ‘Breaking the Moulds’), containing translations of some of the best articles of the first 8 issues – a notable feat in the field of literature.The book has an erudite Foreword by eminent feminist scholar Dr. Maithreyi Krishnaraj *Foreword link

The Purushspandana 2020 issue is 25th issue on the theme of Toxic Masculinity and how it impacts Men and Boys and all forms of Relationships.

MAVA has been taking active stands in all contemporary happenings whether it is acid attack on girls or jilted love resulting in cruelty on girls, misuse of sex-determination tests or ban on sexuality education – all these are addressed by MAVA from time to time.

MAVA team is invited by Colleges, Universities, Schools, Corporates, NGOs and Civil Bodies across India to conduct trainings and workshops on Gender-Sensitivity and Sexual Harassment Prevention.

penned by Altamash from MAVA during a Mass Awareness Campaign