Huancavelican Adolescents Huancavelican Adolescents towards a More Responsible towards a More Responsible Masculinity – AHMAR ProjectMasculinity – AHMAR Project

Ascencion District - Huancavelica, PeruAscencion District - Huancavelica, Peru

LUIS BREÑA – Huancavelica Regional LUIS BREÑA – Huancavelica Regional Ministry of Education Ministry of Education

RICHARD CCENCCHO – CARE PeruRICHARD CCENCCHO – CARE PeruFERNANDA LOAYZA – CARE PeruFERNANDA LOAYZA – CARE PeruARIEL FRISANCHO – CARE Peru ARIEL FRISANCHO – CARE Peru

afrisancho@care.org.peafrisancho@care.org.pe

Social Change and Family Planing WorkshopRwanda, October 13-18, 2008

OBJECTIVE

To contribute with improved sexual and reproductive health of adolescents within Huancavelica Region, through more responsible and equitable attitudes and behaviors related to a better understanding of masculinity amongst both male and female adolescents

EXPECTED OUTPUTS

Strengthened and empowered adolescent leaders

promote and practice responsible masculinity

Improved access and acceptance of male adolescents

to good quality sexual & reproductive health care and

health & education counseling services

Diverse social actors (Health & Education Regional

Authorities, Asención Local Government, Parents?

Associations and regional & local NGOs) make decision

and take commitment towards recognition and support of

a more equitable understanding of masculinity

Lessons learning and Knowledge Sharing

COMPONENTS

Pilot Project focus on América Public Educational

Institution (male and female adolescents) and – indirectly

– on America’s Parents’ Association. This educational

public institution was chosen because all its students are

local – born Huancavelica adolescents.

Project is working with male and female adolescents

amongst 12 to 15 years old. It is expected that the Project

will directly reach 100 male adolescents and 20 – 30

female adolescents and their families; 15 health &

education public officers and 6 local government officers

Main Strategies

The Project implements an integrated working framework:

Strengthening (sensitization and capacity building) of

male and female adolescents leaders to promote and

practice better understanding / more equitable masculinity

Sensitization and capacity building for improved

responsiveness of health & education services

Social Communication Strategies

Political Incidence and strategic alliances building

Lessons inter-change and knowledge sharing within

CARE and outside CARE

KEY ACTIVITIES

-Base line (Qualitative and Quantitative baseline) Collection of evidence from the young men on how they understand their priorities and problems in their own environment

- Sensitization and advocay on public sectors, local government, NGOS– Reflective analysis and project design with participation of health & education public officers, local governments and other key stakeholders (focus groups on key actors)- Leaders’ selection and capacity building

KEY ACTIVITIES (II)

- Capacity building amongst health & education sectors- Constitution of “Ascencion District Adolescents’ Committee”, with Local Government, Male & Female Adolescents

Leaders, Regional NGOs, Public sector officers - “Adolescent’s House” Implementation and peer – learning process- Community theater & social comm. strategies- Follow-up by key actors & stakeholders- Joint Workshops amongst CARE Bolivia and Perú for joint construction of lessons and knowledge- Systematization and dissemination of the experience and lessons learned

TRENDS for LESSONS LEARNED

-Project has promoted a different, fresh dialogue amongst CARE staff’s adolescents sons and daughters

- Project staff is learning more on adolescents’ views and understanding of masculinity

-Addressing traditional vertical, hierarchical relations from the providers – they are not necessarily “participatory champions”!

-Adolescents do want to participate in their free time, and counting with a space where their opinions are respected. Women participation challenged by domestic labour

TRENDS for LESSONS LEARNED (II)

- Qualitative research & participatory analysis is time and effort consuming, but it is worth it. Contributes with a better community mapping

-On the other hand, time and effort consuming methodologies are not easily transferred to public, time-limited officers

-For addressing key stakeholders resistance (i.e. catholic church), alliance building (local governments, public officers, parents’ associations, local NGOs, etc) and advocacy strategies are needed