Chazanga Basic School is located 15 km north of Lusaka in Chazanga compound separating Lusaka and Central Provinces. It is one of the safe space schools identified for the establishment of the Boys Network Club. On June 18, 2010, the Men's Network Project members met with school authorities to discuss the formation of the boys network. The school head was supportive of the initiative and has so far identified three teachers to work with the boys, as male guidance, Mr. Mubita, Mr. Fredrick Chola, and Ms. Beatrice Ntaulo and overseers of the boys network. The Men's Network members explained to the school head that ZNWL will not work in isolation to implement the project but with work with other partners in the coalition to address sexual violence of adolescent girls. The school head master expressed support towards the project to help boys into responsible members of the community. He also informed the male network members that some teachers are also interested to join the Men's Network. For us this was a positive development as the teachers will be working side by side with their pupils.
June 24, 2010: Formation of the Boys Network Club
On June 25, ZNWL Mens' Network members regrouped to establish the Boys Network Club at Chazanga Basic School. The formation of a club started with a session to assess the boys' (aged between 10 and 16 years) understanding of gender equality and sexual violence. The boys were knowledgeable about basic facts of gender, HIV/AIDS and sexual violence. The pupils were asked as what attracted them to the meeting for the first time. The following were some of their responses:
"we want to learn about health", "we want to know about gender and HIV/AIDS", "I have heard about the boys network", and "we want to know how we can protect the girls". Based on the boys' understanding, the team explained to the boys why it was important to establish the boys network at the school. The boys were told that they would be talking to their friends at school about sexual gender violence against girls and report them to school authorities and that they should model to other friends in school and the community.
The Planned Parenthood Association gave a session on health and HIV. At the close of the meeting, the boys were given an opportunity to ask questions which were responded to by all of the team members. At the end of the meeting, the boys showed us that they were good democrats by electing an executive committee to run the affairs of the 40 member club. It comprises pupils in basic secondary school, and upper primary school.
Golden Nachibinga, a member of the Men's Network, talking to members of the Boys Network on sexual violence against girls
Executive committee members of the Boys Network Club at Chazanga Basic School
Queen from the Planned Parenthood Association talking to the Boys Network on sexual health
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