Five years ago, the International Center for Research on Women (ICRW) released a brief on Gender Equity and Male Engagement which stated, "Meaningful engagement with men and boys is increasingly recognized as critical to gender equality and equity, necessary not only for women's empowerment, but also for transforming the social and gender norms that reinforce patriarchy and inequality and harm both women and men."
It makes sense. And more importantly, it works. As part of our commitment to helping communities thrive, World Vision deliberately engages men and boys alongside women and girls to shift mindsets that have held them back for generations. Keep reading to learn how.
World Vision:
3 ways we engage men and boys
1. When working with pregnant women, our community health workers actively involve fathers or partners in educational support sessions. This results in better awareness, understanding, support, and safer deliveries.
2. When working to eliminate female genital mutilation (FGM) and child marriage, adolescent girls and boys participate in our coming-of-age educational program called Alternative Rites of Passage. Mindsets and behaviors are changing.
3. When working with families to break the cycle of generational poverty, we involve men and women in a high-impact curriculum called Empowered Worldview. Proven results of this Bible-based program include: improved male/female relationships, increased joint decision-making, and improved household incomes.
These are just a few of the ways we help create environments where right relationships between women and men, girls and boys will lead to long-term sustainable development.
Vision Talk: Why does World Vision focus on women and girls?
Recently, Kathryn Compton, our Chief Development Officer for Strong Women Strong World™, answered this question through a 6-minute talk at our Every Last One Conference in Anaheim, California. Our "why" might surprise you.
Friday, July 21 | Inaugural Women for Women 24-hour Relay
Passionate women from across the country are uniting in Santa Barbara, CA with a goal of raising $1 million to provide clean, water, sanitation, and hygiene to rural health clinics. Each member of the team has boldly taken on a $10,000 personal target to reach our God-sized aim. See who's participating in this historic World Vision eventhereand consider helping them raise the funds to achieve this worthy goal.
Friday, December 1 | 19th Annual Strong Women Strong World™ event in New York
Watch for an email on June 21 for an early registration special. For a limited time, you can get $50 off your registration fee!
Ways to take action
Raise awareness | Go shopping at our online SWSW store!Two new items are now in stock: a racer-back flowy tank top and a super-soft lightweight fleece zip-up jacket!
Use your influence | Help us pass the Keeping Girls in School Actin both the House and Senate by taking five minutes to fill out this quick and easy online form. Thank you!
Invest in women and girls | Now you can double your impact.Every $1 given to theStrong Women Strong World™ Where Most Needed Fundwill be matched with a $1 donation to programs that empower women and girls, thanks to our generous SWSW partner, Clean Water Here (up to $12 million).
World Vision's Strong Women Strong World™
helps keep girls and women at the center of global community development, advocacy,
and emergency response work. Together, we can continue making a difference
in the lives of women and girls and accelerate communities’ progress out of poverty.
