Coaching boys into men: school interventions

Since 2020, the USAID-funded ACHIEVE Project, led by Pact and in collaboration with World Vision and Futures Without Violence, have implemented the violence prevention program, Coaching Boys Into Men (CBIM), in Botswana, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Through CBIM, athletic coaches are trained to serve as mentors to their young athletes, adolescent boys between the ages of 9-14 years old, on the importance of developing healthy masculinity and respectful, nonviolent relationships. This includes identifying what constitutes abusive behavior, increasing positive attitudes that promote gender equity, developing a greater ability to intervene when abusive behavior is witnessed and decreasing abuse perpetration. Furthermore, the program’s aim is to increase discipline, cooperation, and integrity through sports to mitigate violence against children (particularly girls), ultimately reducing the risk of HIV infection among adolescent girls who have experienced or are at risk of experiencing violence.