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Hindustan Times
17-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Sensitising youth on gender through films
The Netflix series Adolescence sparked a debate on toxic masculinity, demonstrating the power of online platforms, TV and film in shaping society. A film festival is similarly triggering debate across India — six editions of the Travelling International Film Festival, called SamaBhav, which is organised by Men Against Abuse and Violence (MAVA), have been held in 52 cities and 22 rural districts, reaching 18,000+ youth through educational institutions and civil society organisations. The festival comprises selected national and international films that cover a wide gamut of gender and human rights issues, including various forms of gender-based discrimination/violence, patriarchy, misogyny, sexism, homophobia, transphobia, and redefining masculinity. The post-screening discussions enable young audiences to debate and reflect on their biases, societal prejudices and regressive attitudes around gender, advocating for a pluralistic, inclusive society. The festival has also gone to Bangladesh, Nepal, Indonesia and Bhutan. ''Seven years ago, as an experiment I planned and organised a two-day film festival at SNDT Women's University in Mumbai. Hundreds of students affiliated to SNDT actively participated and the venue was full. That motivated me to organise this as an annual travelling film festival and activists such as Kamla Bhasin encouraged us to take the festival to our neigbouring countries,' says Harish Sadani, cofounder of MAVA and the founder-director of SamaBhav. The carefully curated films have been stirring vital conversations among youth. Many viewers in 2-tier and 3-tier cities have been expressing how the film festival has been an eye-opening, immersive experience for them that provided fresh insights and perspectives on contemporary gender matters, which normally are not deliberated upon in institutional settings. A significant number of educational institutes have been inviting the MAVA team for stand-alone film festivals that are hosted in their respective districts with the pro-active involvement of student leaders. A few corporates have also arranged screenings of SamaBhav for their employees as part of their Prevention of Sexual Harassment (POSH) initiatives. UNICEF supported MAVA's effort in engaging 260 plus school teachers of Osmanabad district in Maharashtra over SamaBhav film screenings and dialogue. Akshat Sharma, a first-year law student at KES JP Law College, Mumbai says, 'The Travelling Film Festival left me speechless. It challenged stereotypes and social norms, pushing us to confront the harsh realities of our society. The films were more than just stories — they were reflections of our collective conscience. Women of My Billion was one such film that hit me hard, featuring real women sharing their raw, unfiltered stories, their voices trembling with emotion. It was like I was witnessing their struggles firsthand. I wasn't the only one; the entire room was silent, everyone's eyes welling up with tears. Each film tackled a different social issue, speaking to someone in the audience on a deeply personal level. It was like the stories on screen were echoing our own experiences, making us confront our realities and bringing a sense of empathy and understanding.'' These films are a way youth can connect over common patterns of gender-related issues that we find in India and the neighbouring regions. What they need is a safe and non-threatening platform to discuss their fears and concerns and listen to different and fresh perspectives. Through the travelling film festival post-screening, a sizeable number of youth across India were able to express and exchange their innermost thoughts, perspectives and differences. What has been heartening is that young men seem more amenable to listening to their women counterparts whether in colleges or workplaces. It has also provided a space for non-binary youth to find a safe open space to discuss their vulnerabilities and concerns. Dr Arjun PC from Palakkad Medical College who took the initiative to organise the festival on his campus says, 'More than just a film screening event, SamaBhav created space for meaningful conversations on gender-based violence, discrimination, equality, equity, and queer rights through powerful films. A notable film was Kaathal, starring Mammootty which left a strong emotional impact on the audience. It addressed issues such as internalised homophobia, masculinity, and the family dynamics of a closeted and later openly queer person. These films have certainly left a lasting impression on the hearts of budding medicos. Medical colleges, like many other institutions, still carry traces of homophobic and transphobic attitudes. Within that cultural fabric, these films provided a powerful counter-narrative, sparking vital conversations among students and faculty alike.'' This sort of effort needs to be scaled up and SamaBhav plans to deepen its impact through its forthcoming 7th edition by travelling to 18 new cities and rural districts. At a time when social media is throwing up new challenges as we saw in Adolescence, a festival which promotes a critical dialogue among the wider youth population is invaluable and enables them to look at contemporary gender issues through an intersectional lens. The views expressed are personal Get 360° coverage—from daily headlines to 100 year archives.
Hype Malaysia
15-05-2025
- Sport
- Hype Malaysia
Netizens Discuss Viral Photo Of Malaysian Athlete's Physiques Compared To Overseas Athletes
Malaysian athletes are not strangers to the international stage, as prominent figures such as Pandalela Rinong, Lee Chong Wei, and Azizulhasni Awang are inspiring the future of Malaysian sports for our fellow youths. Compared to overseas athletes, some may argue that Malaysians have a sizeable difference when it comes to our physiques, which may be a contributing factor to how we are perceived. A recent viral photo of the Malaysian Beach Volleyball Youth Team at the AVC Pingtan Open in China has become a hot topic of discussion among netizens as they debate the significant size difference between the Chinese team and the Malaysian Youth team. The Malaysian youth team had competed in the open category of the competition to gain important points for the under-21 World Championship qualification that will take place in June. The photo consisted of the country's young pair, Nur Azwa Qariesya Mohammad Noor Aizuddin, 16 years old, and Rachael Goh, who competed in the under-19 category side-by-side with the Chinese opposing team, Xue Chen, 35 years old and a four-time Olympian and 23-year-old rising star, Zeng Jin Jin. Despite their significant difference in experience and size, the young pair had competed fiercely but struggled to provide competition to the opposing team. They lost with a result of 0-2 to China and 0-2 to Japan. The post made on the Malaysian Volley Association (MAVA) page has since been a hot topic of discussion among netizens who note the notable size difference. The comments were divided, with some commenting on the lack of correct nutrients provided to national athletes as the cause of the contrast in physique. Facebook user Amir Tumiran points this out by commenting, 'The country needs to improve the nutritional quality of its people along with the modernisation of the nutrition program of developed countries'. Not all agree with this sentiment, as others defend the status of these young athletes by supporting their achievement of braving their way through the match despite the disparity in experience and age. The MAVA has since released a statement condemning irresponsible media coverage and public harassment of young athletes to curb the issue of cyberattacks. Sources: Asian Volleyball, Facebook Alyssa Gabrielle contributed to this article
Morocco World
17-04-2025
- Business
- Morocco World
African Forum on Agricultural Investment Gathers Momentum in Benguerir
Rabat – Benguerir became a meeting point for Africa's agricultural changemakers this week, as the third edition of the African Forum on Investment in Agricultural Value Chains opened its doors. The event is part of the MAVA, a growing initiative launched by INNOVY in partnership with the OCP Group and the International Finance Corporation (IFC). Since its launch in late 2023, MAVA has worked to lay the groundwork for more sustainable and resilient food systems across the continent. It brings together private and public actors, smallholder farmers, startups, and investors under the vision to unlock Africa's agricultural potential through bold ideas and targeted capital. This year's edition turned its attention to innovation and investment as tools for long-term transformation. The conversations moved beyond general declarations, aiming instead to forge practical alliances and help promising projects progress. 'MAVA reflects a shared ambition between INNOVX, IFC, and the OCP Group. We believe in creating real impact by connecting innovation to local needs,' said Amine Houssaim, CEO of INNOVX. 'We want to rethink agriculture across the continent. Our goal is to mobilize $800 million by 2030 for projects that strengthen value chains and give farmers the tools to thrive,' added Younes Addou, Vice President for Agribusiness & Sustainability Solutions at INNOVX. For Mohamed Hettiti, CEO of OCP Africa, the forum served as another reminder of what's possible when vision meets local commitment. 'We support integrated solutions that meet the real conditions African farmers face,' he argued. 'That's where lasting change begins.' MAVA started as a platform to connect finance and farming. Today, it acts as a launchpad for concrete action. The initiative now operates under the umbrella of INNOVX, a business builder linked to Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P), with OCP Group and IFC bringing in agricultural and financial expertise. The energy on the ground matched the urgency of the mission. The forum featured local entrepreneurs, global investors, and researchers working toward the same goal, to build better systems that feed communities, protect the land, and support livelihoods. One of the event's key announcements came from the French Development Agency (AFD), which pledged €350,000 to INNOVX in support of MAVA's mission. The funding will help launch studies on five priority areas, including the recovery of agricultural by-products and the measurement of carbon absorption on farms. These efforts support broader goals around food security and climate resilience. Turning ideas into results MAVA has already supported several pilot projects. In the cashew sector, one team turned agricultural waste into biofuel and biochar. In the rice value chain, a new insurance model helped reduce exposure to processing and yield risks. These projects point to what's possible when the right support reaches the right hands. Alongside IFC, OCP, and other partners, MAVA plans to support even more startups and scale ideas that prove their worth on the ground. A recent startup challenge, launched with Digital Africa, offered investment of up to $100,000 to entrepreneurs in Agtech, Fintech, and Insurtech, tools that could reshape the way farmers manage their work and protect their income. A platform with long-term vision As the forum draws to a close, one thing is clear: MAVA has already carved out its space in Africa's agricultural future. It does not seek quick wins or fleeting visibility. Instead, it seeks to build a model that lasts, grounded in local realities, backed by serious investment, and open to creative thinking. Follow-up regional forums and project launches will take place over the coming months. The story of MAVA continues, and so does the work of everyone it brings together.
