About Us – Saamya

About Saamya – Why We Need to Work with Boys

Saamya was conceived from the critical understanding that true gender equity in patriarchal societies like India and Southeast Asia demands early engagement with boys. Recognizing that traditional programs often overlook men and boys as allies, and building on research from 2016, the DS Group launched Saamya in 2020.

Its unique approach lies in proactively shaping mindsets in boys aged 7–11. By instilling values like empathy, respect, and dignity through activity-based learning, Saamya aims to cultivate “sensitised boys for a gender-equitable society.” This fosters allyship, challenges ingrained notions of domestic roles, and empowers boys to become agents of change, leading to a ripple effect for long-term societal transformation.

The program started as a pilot intervention in three communities in Noida, subsequently extended to Noida, Delhi, Lucknow, Karnal and Jaipur. More than 1700 young boys across the locations have been trained and sensitised through a structured approach.

Seeing the importance and relevance of the cause, the program is further improved to deliver in school setting, also where young boys engage through interactive sessions, roleplays, debates, and discussions. The School Programme initially started in Billabong High International School (Noida) and Bharat Ram Global School (Greater Noida). The program has since expanded and implemented the programme in many more schools.

The initiative has earned recognition from various educational and social institutions for its early intervention model and impactful approach toward building a more inclusive and equitable society. It received the AIMA Special Category Award at the 11th Business Responsibility Summit and CSR Project Excellence Awards in New Delhi and was honoured with the “Gender Equality Initiative of the Year 2022–23” award by the Indian Social Impact Awards.

Vision

Fostering young boys towards gender equality.

Goal

To create a generation of young boys who are gender sensitized and adapt behavior and practices conducive to a gender-equitable society.

What is our Theory of Change?

When boys are sensitised to gender issues at young age, they adapt behavior and practices conducive to a gender-equitable society.
When boys take action at personal, households and communities, indicating a shift to gender equitable practices.
When key stakeholders such as families and communities are also they enables an environment conducive to gender values for the boys.
As a result, boys learn to identify harmful gender norms, understand their role in sustaining discrimination, and recognise their own power to create change. As they grow into young adults, they transform themselves, build healthy relationships, influence their peers, and contribute to social change.

What We Do

Saamya – Fostering Young Boys for Gender Equality has been working for the past five years to nurture a generation of empathetic boys across Delhi, Noida, Lucknow, Karnal, and Jaipur. Launched in 2020 as the flagship programme of Dharampal Satyapal Foundation of DS Group, Saamya focuses on boys aged 7–11 years.

The programme operates through two key components: a Community Programme and a School Programme. Through both, Saamya engages with young boys to help them develop gender-equitable attitudes and practice empathy, respect, inclusivity and compassion towards all individuals.

Saamya envisions boys consistently demonstrating gender-equitable attitudes that are reinforced by supportive environments at both school and home. Parents, Families, Community Members, and Teachers play a pivotal role in creating and sustaining these environments. Saamya believes that to build an ecosystem by sensitising and orienting parents and teachers on gender-related issues, and enabling them to consciously integrate these values into their practices, is crucial for achieving the programme’s long-term impact.