Mahendranagar, Kanchanpur | 1–2 December 2025
Saathi, under the GOAL Project supported by AEIN Luxembourg, organized a two-day residential Gender Realization Workshop in Mahendranagar, Kanchanpur, targeting school-going adolescents from Krishnapur and Shuklaphanta Municipalities. The workshop aimed to strengthen youth understanding of gender equality, gender-based violence (GBV), and technology-facilitated GBV (TFGBV), while promoting positive youth and boys’ engagement in violence prevention.
Saathi has been actively working to prevent and respond to GBV through advocacy, survivor support services, and community-based campaigns. Under the Generation, Ownership, Awareness and Liberation (GOAL) Project, Saathi has been implementing youth- and community-centered interventions in Kanchanpur District with the objective of addressing harmful gender norms and reducing GBV risks among adolescents.
The workshop was organized in response to persistent gender stereotypes and the increasing exposure of adolescents to sexual and technology-facilitated violence. Through a safe, interactive, and residential learning environment, participants were encouraged to critically reflect on social norms, power relations, and their own roles in building gender-equitable communities.
Objectives of the Workshop
The workshop aimed to:
- Sensitize school youth on the concepts of sex and gender, discriminatory gender roles, and their social impacts
- Enhance understanding of GBV, its root causes, and consequences
- Build awareness on Technology-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence, including risks, impacts, and safety measures
- Promote positive boys’ engagement and youth leadership in GBV prevention
Participants and Methodology
A total of 48 youths (girls and boys) from Krishnapur and Shuklaphanta Municipalities participated in the workshop. Participants were selected based on their potential to act as change agents within their schools and communities.
The two-day residential workshop adopted participatory and youth-friendly learning methodologies, including:
- Group exercises, presentations, and facilitated discussions
- Role plays to explore real-life gender and power dynamics
- Open sharing of opinions and personal reflections
- Use of audio-visual materials to enhance learning
These approaches enabled participants to critically analyze social norms and relate learning to their lived experiences.
Program Sessions
The workshop sessions covered the following thematic areas:
- Concepts of sex and gender
- Gender roles and discriminatory practices
- Root causes and forms of GBV
- Types of power: Power Over, Power Within, Power With, and Power To
- Importance of boys’ engagement in GBV prevention
- Technology-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence: risks, impacts, and safety measures
Key Outputs and Outcomes
As a result of the workshop:
- 48 youths were sensitized on gender equality, GBV, and TFGBV
- Participants demonstrated improved understanding of gender norms, power relations, and GBV
- Youth gained practical knowledge on cyber safety and prevention of online violence
- Participants recognized the importance of boys’ and men’s engagement in preventing GBV
- Youth expressed commitment to acting as peer educators and advocates within their schools and communities
Participants’ Reflections
Participants highlighted that community-level awareness on GBV remains limited and requires continuous engagement. Many shared that learning about cyber violence and online safety was new and highly relevant. Youth also emphasized their responsibility in promoting respectful behavior, gender equality, and violence-free spaces both online and offline.
Conclusion and Way Forward
The two-day residential Gender Realization Workshop significantly contributed to strengthening youth awareness and leadership for GBV prevention under the GOAL Project. Building on these outcomes, Saathi will continue engaging adolescents through follow-up sessions, school-based initiatives, and coordination with local governments to sustain positive behavior change and promote gender-equitable communities.
