Project Details

Project Name: Transforming Inter-Gender Relational Culture in Schools: A Behavioral Approach to Mitigating Sexual Harassment

Background

In Bangladesh, verbal and sexual harassment in schools significantly undermines the socioemotional wellbeing of girls, contributing to dropout rates and early marriage. This project aims to address these challenges by fostering a safer inter-gender environment in schools through behavioral interventions. The initiative, SAFE in School (Students Advocating for Empathy), leverages the influence of socially popular male students to lead an anti-harassment curriculum. By promoting empathy and perspective-taking, the program seeks to transform school culture, reduce harassment, and enhance school attachment among girls.

Project Details

1. Objective

• Develop a safe inter-gender relational environment in schools by reducing harassment of girls.
• Enhance the socioemotional wellbeing of students, particularly girls.
• Promote inter-gender prosocial attitudes and strengthen support networks.
• Reduce dropout rates and early marriage arrangements through improved school attachment.

2. Target Group

• Primary Beneficiaries: Approximately 30,000 middle school students (grades 6–10) across 150 schools in Bangladesh.
• Secondary Beneficiaries: Teachers and school communities, benefiting from a transformed inter-gender environment.

3. Methodology

• Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT):
  • Schools randomized into three treatment arms: 
    • T1: Ninth-grade male advocates trained to deliver anti-harassment curriculum to sixth graders.
    • T2: Advocates conduct placebo activities to account for interaction mechanisms.
    • T3: Control group with no tasks assigned to advocates.
• Intervention Design:
  • Ninth-grade boys with strong social influence and close female relatives (sisters or cousins) selected as advocates.
  • Weekly thematic sessions emphasizing self-persuasion and perspective-taking to foster empathy and responsibility.
  • Surveys, administrative records, and achievement tests used for evaluation.

4. Key Results (Anticipated)

• Reduced incidents of verbal and sexual harassment in schools.
• Improved inter-gender support networks and prosocial attitudes among students.
• Enhanced socioemotional wellbeing and school attachment for girls.
• Decreased dropout rates and early marriage plans.
• Spillover effects on peers, extending positive behavioral changes throughout the school.

5. Financials

• Budget allocated for training, curriculum development, monitoring, and evaluation.
• Funding secured through partnerships with educational and development organizations.

6. Sustainability

• Build capacity within schools to independently maintain and expand the program.
• Collaborate with government agencies to incorporate the program into national educational strategies.
• Leverage the social influence of student advocates to sustain behavioral changes.