1.0World Vision Advocacyhttps://www.worldvisionadvocacy.orgKatie Taylorhttps://www.worldvisionadvocacy.org/author/kataylor/rich600338<blockquote class="wp-embedded-content" data-secret="kAadnRR6tP"><a href="https://www.worldvisionadvocacy.org/2019/08/30/how-male-engagement-sessions-are-helping-women-in-bangladesh/nobo-jatra-marriage-transformed-through-male-engagement-sessions/">Nobo Jatra – Marriage transformed through male engagement sessions</a></blockquote><iframe sandbox="allow-scripts" security="restricted" src="https://www.worldvisionadvocacy.org/2019/08/30/how-male-engagement-sessions-are-helping-women-in-bangladesh/nobo-jatra-marriage-transformed-through-male-engagement-sessions/embed/#?secret=kAadnRR6tP" width="600" height="338" title="“Nobo Jatra – Marriage transformed through male engagement sessions” — World Vision Advocacy" data-secret="kAadnRR6tP" frameborder="0" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no" class="wp-embedded-content"></iframe><script type="text/javascript"> /* <![CDATA[ */ /*! This file is auto-generated */ !function(d,l){"use strict";l.querySelector&&d.addEventListener&&"undefined"!=typeof URL&&(d.wp=d.wp||{},d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage||(d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage=function(e){var t=e.data;if((t||t.secret||t.message||t.value)&&!/[^a-zA-Z0-9]/.test(t.secret)){for(var s,r,n,a=l.querySelectorAll('iframe[data-secret="'+t.secret+'"]'),o=l.querySelectorAll('blockquote[data-secret="'+t.secret+'"]'),c=new RegExp("^https?:$","i"),i=0;i<o.length;i++)o[i].style.display="none";for(i=0;i<a.length;i++)s=a[i],e.source===s.contentWindow&&(s.removeAttribute("style"),"height"===t.message?(1e3<(r=parseInt(t.value,10))?r=1e3:~~r<200&&(r=200),s.height=r):"link"===t.message&&(r=new URL(s.getAttribute("src")),n=new URL(t.value),c.test(n.protocol))&&n.host===r.host&&l.activeElement===s&&(d.top.location.href=t.value))}},d.addEventListener("message",d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage,!1),l.addEventListener("DOMContentLoaded",function(){for(var e,t,s=l.querySelectorAll("iframe.wp-embedded-content"),r=0;r<s.length;r++)(t=(e=s[r]).getAttribute("data-secret"))||(t=Math.random().toString(36).substring(2,12),e.src+="#?secret="+t,e.setAttribute("data-secret",t)),e.contentWindow.postMessage({message:"ready",secret:t},"*")},!1)))}(window,document); /* ]]> */ </script> https://live-advocacy.d2.worldvision.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/D030-0865-30.jpg800532Husband and wife Jayantha and Parbati Das, posing with a bicycle, which Jayantha says is a beautiful metaphor for marriage. Location: Bajua Union, Parishad Complex Event: Male engagement sessions – Nobo Jatra/USAID, Bangladesh Marriage as a bicycle Jayantha and Parbati Das have been married for four years. Like many couples living in southwest Bangladesh – and indeed, around the world – Jayantha didn’t always value the work his wife Parbati was doing around the home and for their children. But after attending Nobo Jatra’s Male Engagement Sessions, things have transformed: “My husband has changed a lot,” says Parbati. “He helps take care of our child. He takes him to school. He helps in the household, especially when I am sick.” During the sessions – implemented by World Vision’s Nobo Jatra program and funded by USAID – 12 couples meet with a facilitator every 15 days. The goal is to improve immediate gender relations between the couples, as well as to reduce gender-based violence and child marriage rates. The facilitators report that the couples become catalysts, sharing their knowledge with others in the area and imparting what they’ve learned to their children. “Think about a bicycle,” says Jayantha. “It has two wheels. If one wheel is damaged or leaky, it won’t work anymore. The husband and wife are like the wheels of the bicycle. If someone doesn’t feel happy, the household could be damaged.” “Before Nobo Jatra,” says Parbati, “I didn’t imagine our relationship could be like this.” Nobo Jatra, which translates to “new beginning,” has helped Jayantha and Parbati, as well as other couples across southwest Bangladesh, find a new beginning of their own.