Discover SBC Programs Worldwide

The One Love Foundation, established in 2010 in memory of Yeardley Love (a college student killed by her ex-boyfriend), educates young people about healthy vs. unhealthy relationships to prevent dating violence. Using a train-the-trainer model, the foundation has reached 500,000+ participants through film-based workshops like "Escalation." The curriculum identifies "10 Signs of an Unhealthy Relationship" (intensity, manipulation, sabotage, guilting, deflecting responsibility, possessiveness, isolation, belittling, volatility, betrayal) and "10 Signs of a Healthy Relationship" (comfortable pace, trust, respect, fun, healthy conflict, honesty, independence, equality, taking responsibility, kindness). Programs serve 4th grade through college age. Resources include facilitator training, lesson plans, trusted adult guides, and a digital relationship abuse campaign addressing online warning signs.

The 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence is an annual global campaign running from November 25 (International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women) to December 10 (Human Rights Day). Launched in 1991 by the Center for Women's Global Leadership at Rutgers University, it has grown to include 6,000+ organizations in 187 countries. The campaign raises awareness about the crisis affecting 1 in 3 women globally, promotes evidence-based prevention through the RESPECT Women framework (Relationship skills, Empowering women, Services, Poverty reduction, Enabling environments, Child abuse prevention, Transforming norms), and calls for action from governments, tech companies, and individuals. The 2025 theme focuses on digital violence. The campaign is supported by UN Women's UNiTE initiative and features orange as its symbolic color.

The Spotlight Initiative, launched 2017 by the European Union and United Nations with €500 million, is a global program to eliminate all forms of violence against women and girls by 2030. Operating across Africa, Asia, Caribbean, Latin America, and Pacific, it addresses sexual/gender-based violence, FGM, child marriage, femicide, trafficking, and domestic violence. Results: 540+ laws/policies signed or strengthened; conviction rate for GBV doubled across 13 countries; 5,000+ grassroots women's organizations reported increased influence; 3 million women/girls accessed GBV services; 8 million young people participated in gender-equitable programs; 6 million men/boys educated on positive masculinity; campaigns reached 384 million people; 50 countries strengthened National Action Plans. 49% of funds ($195M) go to civil society organizations, with 10% earmarked for grassroots women's groups.

Stepping Stones, created by Dr. Alice Welbourn in 1994, is the longest-used HIV and gender program globally, implemented in 100+ countries. The participatory training uses role-playing, drama, and peer discussion to challenge social norms and foster equitable relationships. Communities divide into four peer groups (young women, young men, older women, older men) who meet separately then present to the larger community ("fission and fusion"). A randomized controlled trial found: 38% reduction in male perpetration of intimate partner violence; 33% reduction in HSV-2; significant improvements in condom use, HIV testing, and reduced concurrent partners. Topics include communication skills, gender roles, IPV, transactional sex, and condom negotiation. WHO recommends Stepping Stones for GBV prevention. Revised in 2016; combined with "Creating Futures" economic empowerment shows enhanced results.

Tostan's Community Empowerment Program (CEP) uses human rights-based education to facilitate collective abandonment of female genital cutting (FGC) and child marriage across West and East Africa. Since the first public declaration in Malicounda Bambara, Senegal (1997), over 8,830 communities representing 5.5 million people have declared abandonment of FGC and early marriage. The approach emphasizes community-led decision-making through dialogue, storytelling, and cultural learning. In Senegal, FGC prevalence fell by more than half in declaring villages. UNICEF evaluation: only 24% of women in participating villages intended daughters to undergo FGC vs. 44% in non-participating communities. The model is endorsed by the Government of Senegal and integrated into their national FGC abandonment strategy. Benefits extend beyond FGC to democracy, health, literacy, gender equality, and reduced violence.

Soul City is South Africa's pioneering edutainment initiative using prime-time TV and radio dramas to address gender-based violence since the 1990s. The fourth series focused on domestic violence, reaching 86% of audiences via TV, 65% via radio, and 25% via print. Evaluation found: 41% became aware of GBV helpline; 10% increase in disagreement that domestic violence is private; 22% shift in social norm perceptions. The program strongly associated with successful implementation of South Africa's Domestic Violence Act. Soul City is reviving as "Shayi'ndlela" (Turn the Tide) in 2026, funded by UK FCDO, specifically addressing intimate partner violence. The approach has reached 80%+ of South Africa's population including marginalized rural communities, adapting content across all official languages.