Beginning in 2019, Equimundo and local partners Colectivo Rebeldía and ECAM adapted, tested and conducted the first Bolivian implementation of Program H in Santa Cruz and Tarija, setting out to engage young men in deep reflection about masculinity and gender norms.
In order to adapt the manual to the context and most pressing gendered realities of Bolivian youth, the team conducted a formative research study and validated the manual with a pilot group. Program H facilitators were trained in delivering the content and leading the activities in two in-person multi-day workshops led by Equimundo in early 2020. After some delays due to COVID-19, trained facilitators started conducting sessions with youth in Tarija and Santa Cruz via virtual platforms such as Zoom in August of 2020, reaching 166 young men and women.
The reception was such that participants felt inspired to lead their own spin off groups with other youth in their communities, and youth leaders developed action plans that included conducting workshops on Program H content, coordinating with local authorities to integrate a gender lens into their statutes, and working with education sector to promote key programmatic messages to prevent gender based violence.