Our Well-Wishers

I am glad to note the significant contribution of Men Against Violence and Abuse, for the past 27 years, to engage Boys and Men on issues of gender-based discrimination and violence against women. I appreciate the various out-of-the box methods they have been using to engage the youths and reach out to peers spreading messages of women’s right to safety and live with dignity. The idea of a film festival on Gender, Masculinity and related matters is so appealing to the youths. I’m sure the travelling film fest, MAVA has been organizing, will encourage the youths to discuss, deliberate and reflect on the issues of gender and sexuality and help to instill in them the ideas of gender diversity and inclusion. The wide range of films - from regional and international, will help them to sharpen their perspective and they are able to strengthen MAVA’s vision of a gender equal, pluralistic, violence-free society for All! I wish all the best to Harish and his dedicated team working passionately on their Mission.

MAVA remains one of the earliest and strongest allies of the feminist movement in sensitising and engaging men towards gender equality. As a feminist who has been part of the progressive women's movement in India since the 1970s, I find MAVA's work of engaging young men and boys in achieving a gender-equal and violence-free world, highly commendable. Through MAVA, Harish Sadani, the Co-founder has initiated several notable programs among male youth and has evolved many methodologies and rich tools on addressing matters of gender and masculinities. I am impressed with their unique SamaBhav travelling film festival, which has succeeded in reaching out to thousands of young people at the city and district levels across India. I have been a discussant at the first SamaBhav festival held in Pune in 2017 and have witnessed the enriching and thought-provoking conversations that encouraged young people to exchange ideas and experiences within a non-threatening, safe space. I congratulate Harish and his team on their future endeavours of taking SamaBhav to different parts of the country and send my best wishes for an exhilarating journey of discovery.

While patriarchy is about women's subjugation, gender is about men too. It is as much about people who challenge the gender binary. If we have to shape a world less unequal and more just, we need men and women, of different orientations and sensibilities to struggle together. Through out-of-the box methods like a travelling film festival (which I have been part of), I hope we can take small and significant steps towards that world.

DAWN Worldwide has been supporting MAVA in their mission to engage MEN and BOYS to end Gender Based Violence. I commend MAVA for their model of enabling men as being part of the solution to gender-based violence through the gender sensitization and mentoring program in colleges and universities. I wish MAVA continued success and future expansion of their pioneering work to change attitudes of young men and boys in their efforts to create an egalitarian society.

I have known Harish for over 27 years when MAVA was still in its infancy. Though the world has moved on Harish has not changed one bit. He is still as passionate about the cause he espouses – sensitizing people on gender issues, working particularly with boys and men to change their mindset and create harmony in a gender diverse society. In the relentless pursuit of his goals, he has experimented with various approaches like street-theatre, residential camps, a cultural magazine, wall newspapers, social media like blogs and travelling film festivals. He has been consistent in attracting the youth and sustaining their interest on the topics of gender, sexuality and patriarchy that are mostly taboo and not discussed in the public domain in our male-dominated society. I thank Harish and his team for taking on this humongous job of creating awareness amongst a vast youth population to look at gender in a new perspective.

I am so glad to learn about the amazing work done by Men Against Violence and Abuse, for over the past 27 years, to involve Boys and Men on issues of gender-based discrimination and violence against women. I appreciate the various innovative tools they have been using to engage the youths and reach out to peers spreading messages of women’s right to safety and dignity. The idea of a film festival on Gender Diversity is so interesting to the youths. I have attended the first two editions of film fest held and have seen the engaging conversations the festival has generated among the gathered youths. I wish all the best to Harish and his committed team of youth mentors working for a violence-free world.

I am pleased to know about the notable work done by MAVA - Men Against Violence and Abuse to engage Men on gender issues and help prevent gender-based violence against women. This is so important and critical in current times. MAVA’s 2 day film festival on Gender, that travels to different cities and districts across India, will surely sensitize the young men and they are able to promote a healthy dialogue among peers on tabooed topics of sexual health and help break gender binaries. I wish my best to team MAVA for all their sincere efforts for working for a gender-just, pluralistic society.

For the last 3 years, we have been glad to support MAVA’s Travelling Film Festival - ‘SamaBhav’ - that celebrates ‘Gender Diversity’ in various Indian cities. Sweden as a country promotes gender diversity and works actively to defend gender equality, social inclusion and diversity. We believe that SamaBhav is a great platform to increase awareness about gender related issues. Their interesting range of films and good deliberations with experts and youth advocate the need for a healthy, gender-just society. I hope that all the participants appreciate the films and reflect on promoting gender parity and human rights.

I have been observing Harish Sadani and team’s passion and deep sense of commitment towards the cause of gender equality. I’m quite heartened to see the interesting turn he has brought in by involving the next generation of men at an impressionable age. Using varied tools, he has been engaging and mentoring thousands of youths to stand up and speak for women’s rights. In the light of #Me Too Movement worldwide, this work is so significant. I’m happy that my documentary ‘Boys Who Like Girls’ based on Harish’s path-breaking work among adolescent boys in South Mumbai is being showcased at various international travelling film festivals. All the best to MAVA in its significant work!

I am very proud of my MAVA friends, who have been effortlessly doing and acting for their mission for years now. MAVA is trying to host a variety of activities and I think that the Samabhav film festival is definitively a very creative extension of their activities and endeavour. Through Samabhav, I am very sure that people are going to talk about the topic of gender sensitivity and being empathetic to the fellow human being. This is the ultimate role that all of us have. The film festival is going to encourage people to participate because at times people get scared of talking and sharing on these topics. All my best wishes for the next edition of MAVA’s travelling film festival!