Pratik

Pratik lives in Paspula, a small village 150km from Hyderabad.

Pratik’s Dad is an alcoholic. Making matters worse, when he drinks, he resorts
to violence, regularly beating up his wife, Pratik’s Mum. Violence was all Pratik
knew. He was brought up to believe all husbands beat their wives – it is part of
a husband training a wife. For example, a wife has three chances to cook a meal
correctly before being punished.

All this changed when Pratik completed the Boys 4 Change programme run by
local partner, VOICE 4 Girls. The Boys 4 Change programme consists of two
activity-based camps called Fireflies and Supernova. The hope is that boys will
become gender ambassadors who create equality for everyone. At the camps,
Pratik learnt that violence is not a sign of a healthy marriage where a husband is
training his wife, but rather violence is illegal.

Your gift of £29 is enough for a boy to complete the Boys 4 Change programme,
opening their eyes to different perspectives. Returning home from the camps,
Pratik shared what he learnt. He bravely challenged his Dad’s violence against his
mother. He told his Dad about the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence
Act and told him it was a crime to beat his wife.

Drinking alcohol and violence was so deeply ingrained into how his Dad lived his
life. But bit by bit, Pratik’s Dad reviewed his behaviour. Pratik persuaded him to
drink alcohol in moderation and to stop abusing his mother.

Boys do not know any better so will act out the behaviours they see. You can
break this cycle and send a boy like Pratik on the Boys 4 Change programme. He
will be equipped with knowledge about mental health, puberty, menstruation,
violence, and fundamental rights. You can create gender ambassadors working
to create equality for everyone.