Boys Stand Up

This investment, a proof of concept, will be the first major effort to target adolescent boys in Rajasthan reaching 420,000 boys aged 10 to 19 years, with an in-school model and a digital component. Boys will learn about gender, respecting women, trafficking, prostitution, consent, contraceptives and sexual health. The in- school model will reach boys aged 10-14, with a light touch approach to 15-16 year old boys. This investment aims to demonstrate a ready-to-scale, tested model that is successful in bringing positive shifts on (a) attitudes towards safe, consensual sex; (b) changes in reported sexual violence; (c) use of contraception and STI products, including condoms, amongst those targeted. It is a proof-of-concept that will rapidly test two models (in school and on the internet) to demonstrate - a ready-to-scale model reaching boys across the adolescence spectrum – 10 to 19 years of age. The in-school component will use a preventive approach to sexual health and gender equitability by reaching boys early. It will reach 20,000 boys in 400 schools in 2 districts through an in-school model that delivers a curriculum on violence against girls, gender, respecting women, trafficking, prostitution, laws (POCSO), contraceptives, sexual health and consent. The second approach promotes safe and consensual sexual behaviour amongst 400,000 older boys through social media platforms, using digital marketing tools to segment boys and deliver content.