The Uncommon Man

May 29, 2008

MRI in Liberia: National GBV Task Force

Today we traveled back to the Ministry of Gender and Development office for a meeting of the National GBV Task Force. The meeting was attended by over 30 representatives of various national and international NGOs. Unlike the meeting I attended in November 2006, most participants were Liberian.

After a tedious protocol of reviewing last month's minutes, and a reading of statistics collected, we had 15 minutes for a presentation about the GBV program. We had also invited leaders of the women and men's action group in Chocolate City, Ben and Zoe, to talk about the impacts of the program on their community. Along with Ester Karnley, Advocacy Manager at IRC, we were a great team. There were many questions and requests for assistance in developing male involvement, and we encouraged other agencies to use IRC staff as a training resource.

During the afternoon we facilitated a workshop on male involvement in GBV prevention for IRC staff who were not part of the GBV program. Two GBV staff, Ester and Edwin, did a brilliant job of engaging the group in two activities (Beliefs About Men and The Man in the Box), and modeling how women and men can share leadership together. They drew the group into the discussion in a supportive and encouraging way that made everyone feel respected and valued. This was followed with a slide show we had prepared about the history of male involvement in the GBV program, beautifully narrated by the four GBV staff who were present. The slide show ended with pictures of men's projects in Zambia, Nigeria, Rwanda and the United States.

After more questions and discussion, we ended the workshop with each person describing a next step they could take. The responses were beyond our expectations. The two IRC Deputy Directors talked scheduling regular times when GBV staff could lead more discussions. Many spoke about talking with their wives or husbands. Others suggested inviting staff partners and children to a similar program. One man, an IRC driver, said for many years he has transported GBV staff, but never really knew about the program. Now he will be going home and talking with his wife about these ideas. Other men said they were very much changed by the experience and wanted to know if IRC could help them set up a men's action group in their community. Gertrude said this was the first time a GBV program was well received by other IRC staff. The feeling in the room was filled with encouragement and possibility. As the IRC Deputy Director, Elijah said, "Liberia is really ready for this now!"

In connection,
Steven Botkin

To read all Liberia entries in chronological order and to see photos from the trip, click here.

Posted by Aaron Buford at 11:36 AM | Comments (0)

May 28, 2008

MRI in Liberia: Wednesday IRC Staff Meeting in the Palava Hut

On Wednesday mornings, there is a weekly staff meeting at the IRC office. At 8:30am sharp, the generator is shut down, the power goes off, and everyone leaves the building to gather in the “palava hut” in the yard.

After announcements from all departments, and a security report about an increase in armed robberies, Steven and I were introduced to the IRC staff. We launched into our history with the Male Involvement Program, and our tag team approach was great. Staff responded with interest and enthusiasm to what was presented. The men dropped their defenses as they heard about our approach to positive masculinity, and their faces brightened as they heard about the feedback from the men and women from the different communities.

Dr. Atillo raised his hand to make an observation of an experience he had in his office where his attempt to sweep the floor was met with contrary feelings from the woman, who felt that he should not be helping with the cleaning. We explained that because it is a new experience, it can feel uncomfortable for her and that even women have to get used to the idea of men helping out in this way.

Edwin took Steven and I to the community called "Chocolate Factory" to meet with the Woman's Action Group and the Men's Action Group who will have their official opening day ceremony for their new Women's Center on Friday at 10am. We hope that there will be time for us to join this celebration tomorrow after our staff training and before we leave for the airport.

They were proud of this new community center and are looking ahead to becoming a formal community-based organization. Mr. Ben made an impassioned plea for support to help take the young women off the streets by providing different kind of trainings that will lead to employment and self sufficiency. We explained that this is something we've heard from several community partners, and that we would pass this idea on to IRC.

In Peace,
James Arana

To read all Liberia entries in chronological order and to see photos from the trip, click here.

Posted by Aaron Buford at 11:57 AM | Comments (0)

May 27, 2008

MRI in Liberia: Jr. High GBV Classes

Today, Tuesday, was one of the best days of many great days. We got to visit a junior high school (grades 5 - 8). There were at least thirty students who are part of a new initiative, Gender Clubs. This class is headed by a teacher who was trained as a GBV instructor while in the camps. When we arrived, the students were asked to share what they remembered from their GBV classes and they responded by listing the topics area they have covered: sexual exploitation and abuse, forced marriages, rape, domestic violence, child labor and others.

They were asked why they felt it was important for them to learn about these topics. One girl responded by saying that lots of people don't know these things and they get taken advantage of. Another girl said that if an older man comes to talk to them about helping them out for money they will tell them that this is wrong and go tell her parents. Another child talked about how she told her father that when he hits her mother and yells at the children that he is doing domestic violence.

The children then asked us what they can do when they see domestic violence taking place. We acknowledged that this is one of the questions most often asked of us. We said it was important for them to keep from being harmed themselves in those situations. And that to look and pay attention can help draw attention to the situation. We suggested finding an adult to talk to or going to the authorities. We recognized that sometimes there is nothing they can do to stop it, and talk to someone about that feeling of powerlessness is important. Finally, we reinforced how important it is for them to learn to be healthy adults themselves, and share their understanding with others.

We then went with Edwin, GBV staff trainer, to the community called "Chicken Soup Factory" to meet with some youth who are no longer attending school for any number of reasons: not being able to afford tuition, needing to fend for themselves and not having a stable place to live. The two instructors, Kebe and James, who were both in the four day training with us, were in good form, sharing the facilitation. They had the attention of the class as they talked about gender and sex. These students ranged from 12 to 30 years old. We also had a brief but lively interview, had lunch, and went on to another WAG & MAG community center.

The women at this women's center were taking a workshop in sewing. They reminded me of when I was an apprentice tailor back in Belize. They were practicing sewing button holes with different stitches -- all by hand. Then they were learning how to cut materials to complete a pattern. The instructor told us that she is volunteering her time because this is a worthwhile endeavor.

A few minutes later, the leader of the MAG, Pastor Samuel D. Karnley, came to meet with us and with several other men's action group members. They told us how they helped the women's action group build the women's center we were in, and affirmed their commitment to supporting the WAG. They expressed the desire to address what they see as a major problem in their community. "Many young women in this community are now spending lots of their efforts trying to get money from men and it's destroying our community." Pastor Karnley told us of his goal to provide skills training and other forms of support for these girls so they would have other options for taking care of themselves. He asked our advice for how to get assistance in implementing this plan. We recommended that these ideas get discussed with the women of the WAG, so that any proposals are developed from a partnership between women and men. And we suggested that they get from Edwin a format for a grant proposal that could be given to possible funders.

In Peace,
James Arana

To read all Liberia entries in chronological order and to see photos from the trip, click here.

Posted by Aaron Buford at 12:07 PM | Comments (0)

May 26, 2008

MRI in Liberia: Ministry of Gender and Development

This morning, after sitting in on the Montserrado County GBV staff meeting, we met with the leadership team to debrief from last week's training and provide consultation on next steps for program development. The morning ended with an overview of the training for the staff who had not been able to attend.

In the afternoon, we traveled with Gertrude to the Ministry of Gender and Development (MGD). We met with the Assistant Minister of Research, the Honorable Patricia Kamara, who was eager to learn more about the developments in IRC's GBV program. She expressed keen interest in the male involvement project, saying that many other organizations and groups are recognizing how important it is, but don't know how to do it. She asked if the Ministry of Gender field staff could be trained in this approach. We suggested that there are now IRC staff, with extensive training from MRI, who can provide this training. Ms. Kamara told Gertrude that she would like to make this happen as soon as possible. IRC's commitment to working closely with the Ministry was affirmed, and it was beautiful for us to witness these two Liberian women working together for women's safety and empowerment. Our training day ended after meeting with the core GBV staff from each of the three counties and the National Coordinator. She and her team expressed their appreciation for learning about gender dialogue skills and how to hold each other accountable. The men and women shared their challenges with walking the walk in their own personal lives. They were magnificent in their vulnerability, and were excited to continue supporting each other on a regular basis.

It was great sitting outside in this open structure with the view of the Atlantic Ocean on the horizon and a fresh breeze cooling our skin. We decided to meet in our compound because the IRC is like Grand Central Station with cars, trucks and people moving at a furious pace and the noise from generators humming at deafening decibels.

In connection,
Steven Botkin

To read all Liberia entries in chronological order and to see photos from the trip, click here.

Posted by Aaron Buford at 12:14 PM | Comments (0)

May 25, 2008

MRI in Liberia: Recap of 4-Day Training

May 25, 2008: Recap of 4-Day Training

Dear friends and colleagues,

James and I are spending today (Sunday) resting after six days of consulting and training here in Liberia. A leisurely breakfast and a long walk on the beach gave us the chance to take a deep breath, share our observations and feelings about the week, and drink in the experiences of Liberia.

Our week moved from consultations with the GBV leadership team on Monday, to IRC GBV staff training on Tuesday, to four days of training (Wednesday - Saturday) with representatives of women's and men's action groups from 9 communities in addition to IRC staff (a total of 50 people). With the support of MRI training and consultations, IRC has been carefully supporting the development of a women's action group (WAG) and a men's action group (MAG) in each of these communities. And now it was time to bring representatives of each of these groups together to enhance their leadership and partnership skills, strengthen their organizational capacity as WAG/MAG collaborations, and promote a national network of community-based organizations modeling how women and men work together for GBV prevention and economic sustainability.

The experience of these past four days was remarkable in many ways. For many of the community participants from the rural areas ("the bush") this was their first experience of the city. Sitting for four days in an air-conditioned room with facilitators who spoke "American English" was challenging. And yet, what happened during this time was an exciting example of individual and collective consciousness-raising and movement-building.

Day One opened with each community of women and men introducing themselves using the ribbon pole ("commitment tree") that they had created in their introductory male involvement training. Using training handbooks and presentations by IRC staff, core components of the MRI training (beliefs about men, man in the box, male socialization and obstacles and strategies for engaging men) were reviewed. Inviting community members to give feedback to the female/male presentation teams helped to refine staff skills, empower participants, and model women and men sharing leadership.

Day Two began with an activity that helps participants see what they have in common and what is different. As people stepped into the circle to see who shares "common ground" the questions they asked became increasingly powerful and painful. "Who had both of their parents killed before the age of 12?" "Who was abandoned by their husband?" "Who saw 50 members of their community murdered?" "Who was beaten by their parents?" "Who was a beaten by their husband?" "Who has beaten their wife?" "Who has committed marital rape?" Breaking the silence is being taken very seriously by these women and men, knowing that this is needed for making the personal and social changes they want.

We then introduced the concept of "cross-gender dialogue" as an essential skill for women and men to build partnerships. Discussing the meetings of their women's and men's action groups provided an opportunity to apply this concept to their own experiences. There was a lot of interest in understanding the traps in cross-gender dialogue (e.g. men dominating the conversation, interrupting, ignoring and discounting what women say, etc.), and the different effects of using the words "but" or "and" was especially meaningful. Throughout the rest of the training there were many opportunities to practice and give each other feedback about these skills and traps.

The WAG/MAG teams then had a chance to meet to prepare their mission statements, a timeline of their histories, and assess the men's action group on their ally behaviors. Presentations for each group were made by woman/man teams, practicing shared leadership.

We ended the day with a slide show about the history of Men's Resources International and the men's initiatives we have been supporting in Zambia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Liberia and the United States. Participants were inspired to know that they are part of a global movement of women and men as partners for ending violence and promoting healthy communities.

Day Three focused on the process of behavior change and strategies for engaging boys and girls in GBV prevention. After describing the stages in a behavior change continuum we asked participants to talk with each other about the things in their own lives that helped them become more aware and engaged in GBV prevention.

IRC announced engaging boys and girls as a priority for the next stage of their GBV program. We showed the video "Life of a Boy" produced by Promundo in Brazil, and were amazed at how much similarity there is with boys' experiences in Liberia. Based on these experiences, participants had many ideas about how they could support boys and girls in Liberia.

Day Four, our last day together, focused on strategic planning for the women and men action groups. Participants were excited to envision community-based organizations with leadership teams composed of women and men working in partnership. We worked on a national mission statement for the network of community groups, as well as the second annual campaign for engaging men and boys as partners with women and girls for ending gender-based violence. And they were delighted when Gertrude (national GBV coordinator) announced IRC funding support for collaborative WAG/MAG proposals from each community for GBV prevention and economic sustainability.

After reviewing the activities of the past four days, men and then women recited their pledges about ending GBV in Liberia. We honored each person with a certificate of completion for this training. In the closing ceremony each community ribbon pole was connected with new ribbons to a central pole representing the national network. Bells were attached to the ribbons and we experienced the wonderful sound of the connections among community groups breaking the silence together. The ribbons with bells were then wound around each pole as an addition, which will help them remember the strength of their connection when they return to their homes.

The four days were filled with songs, and delightful group "energizers" shared by participants. And everyone left feeling inspired, informed and uplifted. We look forward to seeing what happens next.

In connection,
Steven Botkin

To read all Liberia entries in chronological order and to see photos from the trip, click here.

Posted by Malcolm Chu at 12:10 PM | Comments (0)

May 23, 2008

WOMEN'S PLEDGE-LIBERIA

We, women of Liberia, call upon our fathers, brothers, husbands and sons to join us in ending gender-based violence in our families and communities. We understand the pain of women and men, and the costs to society, caused by this violence. We support men in their own journey of healing from violence, and welcome men as partners in creating healthy families and communities.

To read all Liberia entries in chronological order and to see photos from the trip, click here.

Posted by Malcolm Chu at 12:07 PM | Comments (0)

MEN'S PLEDGE-LIBERIA

We, men of Liberia, are publicly stating our commitment to ending violence against women. We understand the pain of women and men, and the costs to society, caused by this violence. For the health of our families and the future of our communities, we pledge to challenge gender-based violence in its many forms, and to support women's safety and empowerment. We will work together with women legal protections and social services for victims, and educational programs for violence prevention and gender equality. We will be role models of positive masculinity for our children in our words and actions. And we invite other men of Liberia to join us in this pledge.

To read all Liberia entries in Chronological order and to see photos from the trip, Click Here.

Posted by Malcolm Chu at 12:05 PM | Comments (0)

May 22, 2008

MRI in Liberia: Enduring Support

May 22, 2008: Enduring Support

I know it has been stated before about the magnitude of this movement of community workers from the different villages, towns and cities in Liberia. The women's action group (WAG) and men's action group (MAG) teams, primarily from the rural communities in Lofa, Nimba, and Monserrado Counties, are now working to coordinate their efforts, develop their skills as trainers, and expand their outreach to boys and girls. The appreciation shown by the staff and the community volunteers for each other continues to surprise them. Each day they look at each other and say that they did not expect that their learning together was going to be this easy, satisfying, profound.

Each day, the women from the WAGs bless us with their knowledge, vision, and courage. They give direction and hold the men accountable for how they interact in their community. They talk about what is working well and where improvements are needed. The consistent theme from the women is their enduring support for the men for their efforts to be allies and partners. Many examples were given of the way the MAGs have successfully impacted other men in their communities, and the respect for women's leadership in the WAG/MAG partnerships.

At the end of today's training I could see in the gleam in the eyes of all the participants as they understood the effects their actions are having. The potential for expanding their impact for reaching men and boys in supporting and creating a safer community for girls and boys was exciting and overwhelming at the same time. They know that they are the ones who are in the forefront of this struggle, and that they are at the beginning of a great journey.

In Peace,
James Arana

To read all Liberia entries in chronological order and to see photos from the trip, click here.

Posted by Malcolm Chu at 11:56 AM | Comments (0)

May 20, 2008

MRI in Liberia: Poignant Stories of Change

May 20, 2008: Poignant Stories of Change

We spent the day with 14 staff from the IRC GBV program reviewing the core male involvement concepts and skills, practicing cross-gender dialogue, and preparing for the upcoming training.

Sitting together in the outdoor hut we were filled with appreciation for these women and men who are deeply committed to the work of ending violence against women and girls in Liberia.

The stories we heard about how men are changing in the communities where they work were profoundly inspiring. A woman in one community asked a female IRC staff, "what medicine are you giving my husband that he no longer beats me, and wants to be involved with the men's action group?" Another woman described how a big county-wide meeting did not have enough space to include the women who wanted to attend. But the women had learned to speak up for themselves and complained to the meeting organizers. And the men had learned to listen to women, so they made space for women to sit in the meeting and participate. And, in a dramatic evidence of social change, the women were invited to participate in an upcoming training for community leaders, a role traditionally reserved only for men.

One of the male staff described an experience he had leading a community training (using the format he learned from Men's Resources International). During the men's "fishbowl" activity, where men sit in the center of the circle and describe their own personal experiences with violence, a young man talked painfully about the abusiveness of his father. When an older man in the group began to cry as well, everyone learned that he was the younger man's father. The father made a tearful commitment to ending his violence and changing his life. Several weeks later he invited the IRC staff to his home to witness how he was now talking openly and honestly with his wife.

It is these stories that poignantly demonstrate the impact that the male involvement initiative has been having on the lives of people throughout the country. And we are deeply grateful for the opportunity to hear the how the strategies and skills that we have been teaching are rippling out through the IRC staff to communities throughout the country.

In connection,
Steven Botkin

To read all Liberia entries in chronological order and to see photos from the trip, click here.

Posted by Malcolm Chu at 11:51 AM | Comments (0)

MRI in Liberia: Walking the Walk

May 20, 2008: Walking the Walk

The day of the 20th ended with great blessings as buckets of rain poured down for several hours. Walking home my sandals got stuck ankle deep in the mud. I had to stick my hands into the mud and water to retrieve them, then walk home barefoot carrying my sandals. At 10 pm I said goodnight to Ballah after a few hours of catching up with the inspiring work taking place in Lofa County, one of the most rural areas of Liberia. The whole day was full of men and women sharing stories of the impact of the two-and three-day trainings the MAG/WAG's have participated in.

Our training day ended after meeting with the core GBV staff from each of the three counties and the National Coordinator. She and her team expressed their appreciation for learning about gender dialogue skills and how to hold each other accountable. The men and women shared their challenges with walking the walk in their own personal lives. They were magnificent in their vulnerability, and were excited to continue supporting each other on a regular basis.

It was great sitting outside in this open structure with the view of the Atlantic Ocean on the horizon and a fresh breeze cooling our skin. We decided to meet in our compound because the IRC is like Grand Central Station with cars, trucks and people moving at a furious pace and the noise from generators humming at deafening decibels.

In Peace,
James Arana

To read all Liberia entries in chronological order and to see photos from the trip, click here.

Posted by Malcolm Chu at 11:47 AM | Comments (0)

May 19, 2008

MRI in Liberia: Reacquainted

May 19, 2008: Reacquainted

We arrived at the IRC office on the first day greeted by warm smiles, finger-snapping handshakes, "welcome back," and hugs (one for each cheek). So many now familiar faces.

Most of the day was spent with the GBV leadership team, Gertrude Garway - national coordinator, Ester Karnley - advocacy manager, Musue Oberley - Montserrado county program manager, Musu Mulbah - Nimba county program manager, and Joseph Ballah - Lofa county senior program officer. This was the first time (in our experience) that this team was only Liberian nationals. There was much for us to catch up on.

The IRC approach in Liberia is now moving from "post-conflict" to "reconstruction," and the GBV prevention strategy is shifting from service delivery to social change. The GBV staff has been reduced from about 60 to just over 30, as the emphasis is increasingly on supporting community-based groups to take over services and activities. The Male Involvement Project has been integrated into the overall "community development" dimension of the program (with five female and four male staff).

Even as they navigate all of these changes, the spirit of the GBV program remains strong. They have created new women's and men's action groups in two additional communities in each county, bringing the total number of WAG/MAG teams in Liberia to fifteen. And in many communities these groups are developing collaborative activity and initiatives for awareness-raising and economic development.

For lunchtime, we joined a group of "ex-pats" (from Kenya, Pakistan, Spain and other places) working for IRC who were going to an Indian restaurant. Their lives are filled with stories of working for a range of NGOs in countries all over the world. Such different perspectives than the Liberians working in the GBV program!

In connection,
Steven Botkin

To read all Liberia entries in chronological order and to see photos from the trip, click here.

Posted by Malcolm Chu at 11:29 AM | Comments (0)

May 18, 2008

MRI in Liberia: Giving Thanks

May 18, 2008: Giving Thanks

I got up for my morning meditation with the knowledge that my ancestors had been waiting for me. I continue to open my self to their guidance. This journey, like all journeys begins with asking for blessings and guidance from my ancestors. My recent trip back home to Belize profoundly reconnected me to my elders and ancestors. In Belize, I sat in council with them, humbled myself, and was reminded of how important it is that I continue to be available to each and every one of them. I told my brothers and sisters, and my elders in Belize about this upcoming trip to support our brothers and sisters in Liberia.

There is power in this journey, that despite the trauma of the middle passage, I am still able to go back home in love, caring, and visioning for our youth. My family in Belize asked me to give thanks to our Liberian brothers and sisters.

I go to Liberia, carrying my brothers and sisters from the US and Central America in my heart. They have given us the trust and confidence that we are on the right path, supporting a nation, by supporting one person, one men's group, women's group at a time.

I go on this trip, prepared by my 30 years of commitment to working with youth, and am overflowing with joy that we will walk with our brothers and sisters to build healthier communities. I would like to acknowledge and honor the strength, power and vision of our Liberian brothers and sisters, in their determination to support our youth and our future.

The past few weeks leading up to this trip have been riveting, as we paid attention to all that needed to be done in preparation for this work. We, the MRI team, have been in overdrive to get our training handbook together. Much thanks to SuperDan for gathering all our ideas and making sense and order out of them. Thanks to Steven for his tireless work in gathering data for the training. I reap the benefits of both their work. I challenge us to make sure that all our hard work continues to be holistic, and engages not only our minds, but also continues to engage our heart and spirit.

In Peace,
James Arana

To read all Liberia entries in chronological order and to see photos of the trip, click here.

Posted by Malcolm Chu at 11:24 AM | Comments (0)

MRI in Liberia: Traveling to Liberia

May 18, 2008: Traveling to Liberia

We're on our way. Our fourth trip to Liberia over the past year and a half. It's a familiar journey now -- a short hop from Hartford to Washington; overnight to Brussels (arriving early morning after a short night's sleep); four hours in the airport; and another eight hours to Monrovia.

Men's action groups (MAGs) working in partnership with women's action groups (WAGs) have formed in 15 different communities throughout Liberia as a result of our collaboration with the International Rescue Committee (IRC). Together they are forging new community-based strategies and a powerful national network to end gender-based violence and promote positive masculinity.

The relationship with between Men's Resources International and the IRC has enabled us to provide ongoing in-country and remote support for staff training and the development of these action groups -- something we have not yet been able to do in other settings. During this visit we will be meeting with representatives from most of these WAGs and MAGs for four days of training, consulting and planning for the next steps in their community mobilization. This will include advanced training on cross-gender dialogue skills, the development of a behavior change continuum model for engaging men in GBV prevention, initiating an action planning process for engaging boys and girls in GBV prevention and gender equality, and planning for the creation of sustainable community based organizations.

In the Brussels airport we met the Liberian country director for Search for Common Ground, an international NGO dedicated to using media for peace-building. We had an inspiring conversation about how the men's and women's GBV prevention action groups could be a resource for media representations about peace-building initiatives in Liberia, and how SFCG could be a resource for helping the MAGs and WAGs to get our their messages about GBV prevention, positive masculinity and healthy families.

On the drive into Monrovia from the airport we listened to a radio program where one person after another made announcements about missing family and loved ones from the war that they are trying to find. It was a heartbreaking reminder that the impacts of the war are far from over in this beautiful and traumatized country.

In connection,
Steven Botkin

To read all Liberia entries in chronological order and to see photos from the trip, click here.

Posted by Daniel at 10:54 AM | Comments (0)

May 17, 2008

MRI in Liberia: Introduction

Introduction

On May 17, 2008, MRI directors Steven Botkin and James Arana traveled to Liberia for a fourth visit in support of the International Rescue Committee's new project, "Part of the Solution: Involving Men in Preventing Gender-Based Violence."

Funded in part through Irish Aid, the International Rescue Committee (IRC) in Liberia first contracted MRI in October 2006 to help develop an innovative approach to engaging men as allies against GBV in conflict affected settings. Through onsite visits and remote technical support, MRI's work with IRC has lead to:

* Increased understanding and investment among IRC GBV staff in
the value of a male involvement project

* Increased knowledge and capacity among IRC GBV staff on the
fundamental principles for engaging men and basic skills for
facilitating women and men working together as allies

* Development of 15 Men's Groups

* Initial training and supervision conducted with the initial nine
Men's Groups

* Planning for a national awareness raising campaign that was
launched in June 2007

A considerable amount of momentum has been generated in the 15 communities where Men's Action Groups have been started. IRC has contracted with MRI again to provide additional in-country and remote technical support.

During this fourth visit from May 18 - 30, 2008, Steven and James are leading an advanced training on cross-gender dialogue and action-planning, consulting with IRC regarding long-term goals and strategies for the program, and helping to develop monitoring systems for the men's action groups and initiatives.

To read all Liberia entries in chronological order and to see photos from the trip, click here

Posted by Malcolm Chu at 11:12 AM | Comments (0)

April 17, 2008

Moving Forward Program in Amherst, MA seeks new Director

The Moving Forward program of Amherst, MA is searching for a new Program Director. Moving Forward offers state-certified batterer's intervention services, anger management and healthy relationship programs and is the flagship program of the Men's Resource Center for Change. A fuller description of the job is below. Please disseminate this job posting to all you think may be interested.

==*==*==*==*==*==*==*==*==*==*==*==*==

Moving Forward
Domestic Abuse Intervention | Anger Management
Youth Violence Prevention | Healthy Relationships

Moving Forward, the largest program of the Men's Resource Center for Change, has been a leader in Western Massachusetts since 1989 in providing domestic violence intervention services for men acting abusively. We are seeking a new Program Director to help usher the program into its third decade of service and advocacy.

Moving Forward offers state-certified batterers' intervention groups that address a full spectrum of abusive behaviors with both voluntary and mandated clients. We also offer anger management, healthy relationship programs and plan to reinvigorate our youth violence prevention program. We seek an inspired and dedicated person to expand the reach of our program through strategic fundraising and marketing, innovative collaborations, and effective articulation of our program's mission of supporting men and challenging violence.

The Program Director will manage and supervise our program staff who currently run 11 groups in the four counties of Western Massachusetts as well as the Hampshire County Jail and House of Corrections. The Program Director attends District Court and community roundtables and represents the program at statewide meetings of batterers' intervention and victim service programs. The Program Director is responsible for maintaining current contracts and expanding our funding sources. We seek a passionate individual with both management experience and a commitment to ending domestic violence and engaging men.

The ideal candidate will have:
• Knowledge about domestic violence from the perspective of both victims and perpetrators
• Commitment to diversity and cultural competence
• Experience in management and administrative supervision of staff
• Proven success with grant writing and contract management with government agencies, foundations and other funding sources
• Demonstrated community outreach, marketing and media relation skills
• Director-level experience, including program development and financial management
• Excellent communication skills; bilingual Spanish/English a plus.
• Experience in the field of violence prevention and intervention a plus.
• Batterer's intervention certification, clinical experience and license preferred.

Position is 32-37 hours/week. Salary is competitive and commensurate with experience. Send letter and resume by mail or email to: Sara Elinoff Acker, Moving Forward, 236 No. Pleasant St., Amherst MA 01002 or sara.elinoff@mrcforchange.org. Position expected to begin July 1, 2008. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. Women and people of color are encouraged to apply.

236 No. Pleasant St. | Amherst, MA 01002
(413) 253-9588 | main.office@mrcforchange.org
www.mrcforchange.org

Posted by Daniel at 11:50 AM | Comments (0)

December 03, 2007

MRI at International Conference in Salzburg

Greetings from Salzburg, Austria! (Click images for larger size.)

Monday, November 26, 2007

The worldwide movement to engage men and boys in sexual and reproductive health, preventing gender-based violence, and positive masculinity is taking another significant step forward this week as 50 men and women from around the world gather here for a technical consultation, hosted by the World Health Organization, the United Nations Population Fund and Promundo.

Arriving from places such as South Africa, Brazil, Sri Lanka, India, Canada, and the United Kingdom, we will be reviewing and discussing programmes and policies for engaging men and boys in the promotion of gender equality and health equity. This technical consultation will inform the development of a toolkit that will contain examples of good practices and lessons learned in engaging men in sexual and reproductive health, violence prevention, fatherhood and maternal, newborn and child health.

And, most important of all, we will be continuing to strengthen the connections that will form the foundation for a global network of men and women joining together to work toward a vision of families, communities and a world of peace and equality.

It is exciting that Men's Resources International can be part of this event and movement building on this scale, and I will do my best to send updates and photos during the week so that you can participate in some way in this historic occasion.

In connection,
Steven

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Wednesday, November 28, 2007

For the past two days the MenEngage steering committee and international members, a group of 14, has been meeting to discuss the formation of country and regional networks and a global "MenEngage" alliance. There is a tremendous amount of work on engaging men and boys that is going on around the world on every level. Grassroots awareness-raising and community organizing has been happening in places as diverse as Cambodia, India, Sweden, and Jamaica. Research projects are underway and being launched on local and international scales. DVDs, curricula and best practices documents continue to be produced. An Asia Pacific regional MenEngage coordinator has been hired, and a global symposium on engaging men is being planned for November 2008. A MenEngage website will soon be launched which will serve as a vehicle for resource sharing and communications.

The field is mushrooming more quickly than any of us expected, and there is a feeling of trying to move quickly to keep up with all of the developments. I am honored to represent Men's Resources International among this powerful group of men and women, and to add our voice and experience to this developing alliance. I have volunteered to serve on a task group to identify strategies for increasing relationships with women's rights organizations, and another task group on increasing our capacity for resource sharing and referrals.

There is much work to be done, and a recognition of the precious opportunity of being all together in person from so many corners of the world. The energy that comes from working on a shared vision of this scale is exhilarating and humbling.

I look forward to the next three days when we will be joined by another 30 people to work on a best practices toolkit that can become another valuable resource for this movement.

In peace,
Steven

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Sunday, December 02, 2007

En route back to the United States, I am reflecting on the experience of the last three days sitting together with 40 representatives of United Nations agencies, the World Health Organization, and national and international civil society organizations (NGOs). Everyone in the room was deeply invested in strategies for engaging men and boys in violence prevention and family and community health. Many had only recently begun to be interested in this field, but a remarkable number from as diverse locations as Cambodia, South Africa, Norway, Brazil and Australia have now been involved for many years. The accumulated experience and wisdom was inspiring and humbling.

Our purpose was to provide input and advice in the formation of a "toolkit" (or "sewing box" as a doctor working in Eastern Europe kept insisting) of good practices to be published and made available on the internet. Unfortunately, most of our formal time together was spent with PowerPoint presentations about many of the participants' programs. However, the opportunities for networking and learning from each other were tremendous.

There were many people who were working in or from Africa, and I helped to convene an informal networking meeting for this region. We talked about the recent MenEngage consultation in Tanzania with representatives from a number of south and east African countries, and the national and regional networking activities of Men's Resources International. Great enthusiasm was expressed for intersecting these initiatives into a larger African network. MenEngage, UNFPA (the United Nations Population Fund) and IPPF (the International Planned Parenthood Foundation) agreed to provide seed money to hire a coordinator for a mapping and needs assessment of existing networks. Holo Hachonda, who is from Zambia and has recently left a position with IPPF in Nairobi, agreed to serve in this position. MRI will be arranging for Holo to visit western Massachusetts when he is in the United States in January.

I met with Juan Carlos Arean of the Family Violence Prevention Fund, and Todd Minerson from the White Ribbon Campaign to explore the creation of a North American MenEngage network. We discussed the recent roundtable in Boston of U.S. based men working with men on violence against women prevention, and the growing number of White Ribbon activities in the United States, and agreed to work together to plan for a survey to map current programs, resources and needs.

Once again, it became obvious that as this field expands the need for capacity building resources at the local, national and global level will continue to grow. As I said in my closing comment of the conference, even an excellent toolkit will need experienced advisers, mentors, trainers and consultants to assist in the translation from paper (or website) into actual practice. Many people were interested in MRI programs, activities and strategies, and I expect many fruitful follow-up conversations. We will keep you posted via this website and our email list of developments as they occur.

In connection,
Steven

Posted by Daniel at 04:27 PM | Comments (0)

October 09, 2007

Steven On the CARE Training

After packing our bags, we traveled to the CARE office where we met with staff from CARE and representatives from other community organizations who had attended the training for a follow-up strategic planning meeting. We began with a rich discussion about the lessons learned from the training, which produced many valuable ideas about how to apply the MRI approach to engaging men in Rwandan contexts.

The conversation then moved to how to provide follow-up support and accountability for training participants, especially in accomplishing the personal goals that they had committed to on the last day of the training. After discussion about the relationship between personal and professional work, it was decided that an email group will be established, and a check-in meeting with be scheduled in several weeks. One of the men in the meeting reported that last night he had already talked with his wife about the ways he has been abusive, and how he will be changing.

We had to leave the meeting early, because our airplane flight had been rescheduled for an earlier departure time. We look forward to hearing what came out of the discussions about next steps for CARE program development and national networking.

As we left CARE offices with heartfelt good-byes to Delphine, Maimouna, Fidel, Peter, Frederic, Jeannette, André, Kushbu, and Charles, they affirmed their desire for an ongoing consultation from Men's Resources International. We know that they are building a very special collaboration that has the potential for significant impact throughout the country. And we know that we will be back in Rwanda to continue to support this journey.

Posted by Jorge at 11:16 AM | Comments (0)

October 05, 2007

Adin Reflects on the Trip to Rwanda

I joined Steven and James' co-facilitation team on this trip as a woman with a background in peacebuilding as well as gender, and several years' experience working in Rwanda. It's been an amazing experience on multiple levels. Taking such a journey together for the first time, two men and a woman, to work with men and women in a culture not our own with issues that have affected all our lives, was a big undertaking. We are flying home as I write, and there is more to look back on than I can describe, so I'll mention only a couple of things.

First, about Steven and James and the work they do as Men's Resources International. They are extraordinary facilitators, distinctly different from each other, each bringing a powerful distinctive perspective. Their work is very emotional, designed to open men to a deep experience of their impact on women, and the way this impact has harmed themselves as well as their loved ones. They honor the experience of men as they simultaneously hold them accountable for their non-awareness of their violence and its impact. My role as it evolved was to weave in aspects of the perspective of peacebuilding, exploring the links between intimate violence and global violence, and the ways violence wounds identity, for example. It was also useful to have me there as a woman, responding as a woman, articulating truths not yet emerging from the women in the group, and working directly with them.

The second striking aspect of Steven and James' work is their commitment to turning it over to the people they're working with right from the beginning. While their engagement with others includes training, the training is a process of lighting a fire (as they say at the beginning, working with head, heart and soul, in order to understand, feel, and believe), with faith that the tinder to keep it going will be found in the room. Thus, each training evolves into a process of discussing next steps in building a grassroots movement with the energy and commitment awakened in the group. They are respectful conveners of this process of planning. In each workshop they share information about similar groups which are working already in other places. Dreams emerge from participants, such as developing an Africa-wide network of groups working to engage men in working with women on gender based violence, with teams on the group who could go when called to new communities.

The work was intense, exciting, fun, and moving, in new ways for me. While I carry questions always about the impact of people like us coming from other countries to "help" in Africa, there's an undeniable hunger for support to address this violence so inherent in culture here, and we bring not so much "expertise" as ourselves as men and women, albeit embedded in our own cultures, to work that has many similarities world wide.

Posted by Jorge at 11:12 AM | Comments (0)

October 04, 2007

The CARE Training Ends with a Goodbye to Rwanda

Today, the last day of the training, focused on deepening the honest dialogue between women and men about the emotional experiences and gender issues raised in yesterday's activities. It is both painful and heartening to watch the group struggle with this process. The powerful commitment to ending violence and creating healthy families in Rwanda was evident as they continued to build a new foundation of trust among themselves.

The action commitments that were generated as a result were deeply personal and very encouraging. Many men said they will be immediately changing the way they are relating to their wives and children. And many women said they will be going home to talk with their husbands about their experiences and needs, and about how to raise their children with more gender equality. Staff from Burundi also committed to bringing Men's Resources International to their country.

As we ended the day with certificates for all participants honoring the work they have done in this training, we knew this was an important step on a long journey. And as we completed the closing ceremony, wrapping the bamboo pole in our multicolored ribbons, and remembered the pole created last week at the Rwanda Men's Resource Centre, and the poles in Zambia and in Nigeria, and the nine poles in communities throughout Liberia, and the one at the MRI office in Springfield, United States, we knew we were witnessing the growth of a movement.

Posted by Jorge at 09:40 AM | Comments (0)

October 03, 2007

CARE Training, Day II

The second day of the training focuses on the themes of listening to women's and men's stories, breaking the silence about violence, and understanding the social and emotional dimensions of male socialization. It is a highly emotional process that engages the head, heart and soul.

Men are coached to listen to women and to become vulnerable about their own experiences with violence. Women are supported in their need to be heard and respected by men, and their demand for men as partners in change. Together, we learn how to cultivate this delicate, intimate and profound social change process among ourselves, laying the foundation for taking this work into our families and communities.

In the evening, Adin met with Rwandan students enrolled in the School for International Training program where she teaches (in Brattleboro, Vermont). James and I met with Fidel and Theogene for another expansive brainstorming session about possibilities for collaboration on program development and evaluation, and economic sustainability for the Rwanda Men's Resource Centre. The intersection of our resources and areas of expertise holds many intriguing prospects.

Posted by Jorge at 12:44 PM | Comments (1)

October 01, 2007

Preliminary Visits with CARE, and Some Time with IRC and PROFEM

James, Adin and I spent this morning at the headquarters of CARE International where we met with key staff in violence prevention, health and education to prepare for tomorrow's training. We learned more about CARE's commitments to engaging men in these program areas, and they listened eagerly to our descriptions about our experiences in different African countries and Men's Resources International's approach to training and consulting.

In the afternoon, Fidel, James and I visited the International Rescue Committee headquarters, sharing with the executive director and chief officer our experiences with IRC in Liberia, planting the seeds for potential future collaboration with the Rwanda Men's Resource Centre.

Upon returning to the hotel in the evening we joined Adin in a meeting with two leaders of PROFEM, the national network of women's organizations. Agnes Mujawayezu, executive director, had attended the opening ceremonies of the training, and Suzanne Ruboneka, country coordinator for action campaigns, expressed their appreciation and support for the existence of the Rwanda Men's Resource Centre and the importance of getting men involved in the efforts to end gender-based violence, They repeatedly embraced the concept of "positive masculinity" as an valuable approach to gender equality. And together we began developing strategizing for most effectively collaborating on social change in Rwanda.

It was another profoundly satisfying day.

Posted by Jorge at 12:00 PM | Comments (0)

September 30, 2007

More Goodbyes, the Gacaca, and Personal Stories Shared

After saying heartfelt goodbyes to Ugo and Uduma who were returning to Nigeria, Fidele drove James, Adin and me to witness a Gacaca, the community court held once a week in every district throughout Rwanda to hear and try cases related to the genocide.

With one of the Rwanda Men's Resource Centre members serving as our translator we joined hundreds of Rwandans packed on hard benches and crowded around the perimeters of an open air meeting space (with a roof to protect us from the sun). Sitting together were eight men dressed in pink outfits, the prisoners charged with crimes. The five judges (one woman) called them up singly or in groups to defend themselves, and to cross examine them. People from the community came forward to give their testimonies, as accusers, and witness and to provide other information relevant to the case. The process was slow and deliberate, carefully designed to provide time for everyone to have their say. The cases involved murder, looting and intimidation. When we left after six hours of sitting without a break no judgments had yet been made and half of the cases remained to be heard. Witnessing the intense focus and patience of this community for the entire time, and understanding that this process has been replicated throughout the country for the past several years, we understood in a new way the significance of this truth and reconciliation process.

After returning to the hotel we were met by two training participants who shared with us their personal stories. The woman was orphaned when she was sixteen, and become responsible for caring for her three sisters. A family friend helped her with schools fees to complete secondary school. She was then able to get a job with a coffee cooperative in a rural area. Determined to make a better life for herself, she entered university, commuting into Kigali for a few days each week. She dreams of getting a house for her sisters, becoming a manager at the coffee cooperative, helping to improve the lives of the farmers. She was able to attend the training because of the support from Dean's Bean's Organic Coffee.

The man is one of 18 children from a family that still lives mostly in the Democratic Republic of Congo. His family has no money, but through his powerful commitment to his own education, he is now in his last year at university. He explained that he walks everywhere and goes some days without eating in order to have money for his studies. His final paper will be on the impact of punishments in Gacaca. He has been a dedicated volunteer for the Rwanda Men's Resource Centre and assisted with much of the on-site logistics of the training.

James and I were impressed with the courage of these two people, and went to bed knowing that there are hundreds of thousands of others throughout Rwanda with stories just like them.

Posted by Jorge at 11:56 AM | Comments (0)

September 29, 2007

Adieus, a Wedding, and Meetings with Government Officials

Because we did not know when we would have the opportunity to all be together again, this morning was spent in a flurry of discussions, exchanges of digital photos, and expressions of love and commitment among Zambia, Nigeria and the United States. After lunch we bid fond farewells to Stephen and Stencilous as they began their long journey back to Zambia.

Fidel then took Ugo, Uduma, James and me to a wedding ceremony and reception. And after that, we traveled to the home of Theogene (the senior consultant whom we had met the previous week) where he was hosting a party for people involved in a research project he is leading about the effectiveness of HIV/AIDS clubs in schools. Sitting in chairs neatly arranged on the manicured lawn of his magnificent home we met the Minister of Education and other government officials, a representative from the World Bank as well as his team of over 20 young people who conducted the extensive survey throughout Rwanda. (it covered 100% of all secondary and 30% of all primary schools). We were having grateful for this marvelous opportunity to witness a particular dimension of Rwandan society.

Posted by Jorge at 11:49 AM | Comments (0)

September 28, 2007

A Visit to the Rwanda Genocide Memorial

This morning Fidel met us at the hotel with two cars and the eight of us drove to a restaurant on the outskirts of Kigali. There, overlooking a magnificent view of farmland and hills, we discussed the next steps in the strategic development of Zambian, Nigerian and Rwandan men's initiatives. Topics included the challenges of leadership and staffing, the importance of relationships with women's organizations, and the need for economic sustainability.

As the leaders of these newly developing organizations shared information and advice with each other, we all recognized the significance of these relationships and the value of the support being shared. The idea of an African Men's Network naturally emerged as they explored their collective needs and visions.

In the afternoon, many of us visited the Rwanda Genocide Memorial, a burial place and museum about the 1994 ethnic violence when approximately one million people were killed. The horrors of human violence were painfully portrayed, including exhibits about genocides throughout history. It was a sobering reminder of what we are working so hard to change.

In the evening we all went out for our last dinner together, since Stephen and Stencilous would be returning to Zambia tomorrow. It was truly an honor and a blessing to sit among these courageous and humble pioneers as we celebrated how far they have come and recommitted ourselves to the journey before us.

Posted by Jorge at 11:44 AM | Comments (0)

The Rwanda Workshop: An Eye-Opener

From the time we gathered at the Addis Ababa International Airport, I knew we were about to change history in Africa. The Rwandan training was an opportunity to reunite with Steven, James, Phiri, and Mbati. The MRI family and the African Network were received by Fidel at the Kigali International Airport. What good memories the reunion brought forth!

The training was a very worthwhile experience; I must confess that the Rwandan people are warm, accommodating, and eager to make connections despite the language barrier. The opening ceremony was graced by the Deputy Mayor of Kigali and the Executive Secretary of PROFEM, a women's organization based in Rwanda.

Here I must commend the thoughtfulness of the Rwandan Men's Resource Center, under the leadership of Fidel Rutasiyare, for providing us with interpreters who made the training a huge success. The participants were able to share deeply rooted concerns and the facilitators were down to earth with different dynamics of violence. They imparted to every participant the richness of years of research and experience in the fight against Gender Based Violence and the effort to create healthy families and communities.

I consider this a golden opportunity and feel privileged to have been part of this training on eliminating Gender Based Violence in Rwanda, where the world failed to heed to the cry of a people as they sank into genocide. I hope to come back here someday to see the level of change in Rwandan society that has been achieved by our training in this Country of a Thousand Hills.

Marakozi,
Merci,
Uduma Agwu Uduma
Coordinator, Steering Committee
Ebonyi Men's Resource Centre
Nigeria

Posted by Jorge at 11:44 AM | Comments (0)

Opening New Frontiers in Rwanda

The Rwandan Training on Engaging Men in Eliminating Gender Based Violence is yet another milestone towards raising a critical mass of men across Africa who pledge zero tolerance on Gender Based Violence.

The workshop was not just enriching and educative, but it also helped participants recreate relationships in their families and communities. The workshop was truly a life-changing experience; it should be experienced by many more people. Realizing that eradication of Gender Based Violence will to a large extent determine the growth of society, both men and women must show concern and commitment towards eradication to guarantee a progressive society.

I am almost certain that, with the inclusion of men's voices in the fight against Gender Based Violence, women's voices will be louder and victory will be achieved. Bravo MRI! Bravo Africa Men's Network on Eradicating Gender Based Violence!

Ugo Nnachi
Founder
Ebonyi Men's Resource Center
Nigeria

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Posted by Jorge at 11:13 AM | Comments (0)

Steven Writes As The Rwanda Training Ends

The training ended today. There is no doubt that the lives of the 40 participants have been changed. Once again, men learning how to listen to women is a transformative experience for both the men and the women. Once again, breaking the silence about the profound impact of violence on our lives offers an experience of healing and empowerment. And, once again, both women and men are eager to embrace a positive vision of men as partners with women in creating healthy families and communities. The idea of building a society of unity and reconciliation is a particularly relevant theme right now in Rwanda. Our observations about what is happening in the country right now is evidence that they have the individual and collective will to make this happen.

On the second day of the training Stencilous Ndandalika from the Zambia Men's Network facilitated a creative adaptation of the "Man in the Box" activity, engaging participants in deciding whether to put certain human characteristics (for example, "being emotional") in the man box or the woman box. After uncomfortably struggling with the dilemmas of these choices, we understood how social expectations force us into these unfair and dehumanizing roles.

On the last day of the training, Stephen Mbati from the Zambia Men's Network and Uduma Uduma from the Ebonyi Men's Resource Centre in Nigeria each gave a presentation about their organizing efforts since the MRI trainings in their countries. Participants from Rwanda listened with great interest to the successes, obstacles and lessons learned. Fidel shared the story of how the Rwanda Men's Resource Centre was born, and a RWAMREC member presented the organization's action plan. It was clear that we were all on this journey together.

In the evening Fidel and his wife Christine invited all of us to their beautiful home just outside of the city. We met their son, Elion, who was born just a week after Fidel returned from the MRI training in Nigeria, as well as Fidel's younger brother Jean Claude, who is completing his last year at university. Sitting outside, listening to the "natural music" of the frogs and crickets from the fields below, looking at the full moon, in this magnificent company, we knew we were blessed.

Posted by Jorge at 10:38 AM | Comments (2)

September 27, 2007

James on Day Two of the Training: From Sun Up To Sun Set

As I stated before, I got up with call to prayer and did not put my head down until midnight. After our planning session for the final day of training. We -- Steven, Adin and I -- were struggling to keep our eyes open, but knew that we could not end the day without processing our work together.

We resolved to wake up early to get to the training site by 8:30 A.M. to start at 9:00 A.M. sharp. We were continually trying to figure out what we would not be able to squeeze in, and have to let go, trusting that we would be able to tie it in somewhere else. We paid close attention to the way we were working together with the four facilitators (from Nigeria and Zambia) who we invited in to this process, and discussed the areas of the training where we were not feeling supported or connected.

The day was a whirlwind, with a catch-up pace from the beginning. We acknowledged that the participants were fully engaged, connecting with each other, challenging each other, and grasping the concepts well. What more could we ask for? Well, for one thing, we would have liked to recover the extra hour we lost by ending the day at 4:00 P.M. We agreed that the participants were hungry for more details on every topic area we were sharing. The four participants from the Coffee Cooperative were asking when we would be back to provide the training to their group, convinced that further work would help their community.

We had a great meeting that lasted four-plus hours with a Rwandan consultant who had recently drafted national policy guidelines for the Ministry of Gender. He listened with great interest to Chef Ugo Nachi of Nigeria describing the impact of the training in her country, and began to envision strategies for measuring impact, sustainability, and replicability. To say that we welcomed Mr. Gakuba's perspective would be an understatement. We left that meeting knowing that our day would not be complete until our planning session and fill-ins were complete, certificates for the participants signed, calls made home, and blogs emailed.

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Posted by Jorge at 03:30 PM | Comments (0)

September 26, 2007

Steven Writes about the First Day of the Rwanda Training

This morning Fidel transported us to the training venue, Club Mamans Sportif. The opening ceremony for the training included remarks from the executive director of PROFEM, the national network of women's organizations, and an executive secretary for women's affairs in the city of Kigali.

Our inability to speak Kinyarwanda or French required translation throughout the training. Although this slowed down the process, the ability to speak in their own language contributed to a comfort in self-expression and openness that made this day a success.

After the 30 participants introduced themselves the day included discussions about the violence, presentations by Chief Ugo Nnachi of Nigeria and Stencilous Phiri of Zambia about gender-based violence in their countries, and the obstacles to engaging men on these issues.

We ended the day affirming that a belief in men's natural caring and compassion is central to MRI's strategy for male involvement in violence prevention.

Participants expressed encouragement and hope as they left the first day of training. One young man, who lost his father when he was five, spoke beautifully about being ready to be married, but confused about these issues -- "I wonder if I should wait until we have created more gender equality."

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Posted by Jorge at 03:16 PM | Comments (0)

James Describes the First Day of Training in Rwanda

This morning, I got up with the 5:00 A.M. call to prayer and I felt so rested after a physically grueling day yesterday. The eighteen-hour flight on three different planes and several time zones threw me for a loop. After all that time of confinement and body restriction I got up yesterday about 4:00 A.M., and knew I had to get up and move my body. I left the room at daybreak to admire the kaleidoscope of colors painted across the sky.

The view of Rwanda from our hotel balcony is just stunning. This is called the land of a thousand hills and aptly so. I wanted to go jogging but was intimidated by all the hills. You cannot walk too far with out walking up or down a substantial hill, so I decided to take a walk to find a park for a round of Tai Chi and some karate. My body was calling out to be stretched. I found a nice landing overlooking some fields that was ideal for meditation and practice. As I stretched and moved, my body screamed out for more. After an hour and a half, my body was singing and I thanked God for the gift of movement and the opportunity to be here in this sacred land with so much history. I was now ready for the day ahead.

When I got back to the room Steven was doing his Tai Chi. We acknowledged each other with a smile and I got ready for breakfast and our planning for our first day of training. At the breakfast table Adin, Steven, and I marveled at our being here with our brothers and sisters from Nigeria and Zambia.

We all were breaking bread this morning after converging yesterday at Addis Ababa, Ethiopia to board the flight for Kigali to meet our brother Fidel. The airport erupted with joy when we saw each other. To see Stanislaus, Stephen, Uduma and Ugo all with great big smiles and open arms was a great delight. We hugged, kissed and beamed with each others' smiles.

Of course it was a nail-biting experience waiting on the seemingly motionless line to get to the other side where we would see if we would all be on the same flight. Our African friends had spent the night in Addis and got to the airport hours before we did. We did make it onto the same flight, but what was supposed to be a one-hour trip took two-plus hours because of the local stops. The extra time was nothing compared to what had come before: we traveled from Bradley airport in Connecticut to the Washington, D.C. airport, to Rome, to Addis Ababa, to Kenya, and on to Kigali, with three airplane changes. To say that I needed to feel solid ground under my feet would be an understatement.

Yesterday's training was a great success. There were at least 28 participants. A few dignitaries gave their blessings and we began to get to know our new brothers and sisters. As usual, there was not enough time to get in all we wanted because of the need for translation. We spent extra time trying to make sure that our thoughts and concepts were being understood. It was beautiful to see how sensitive, patient and caring the two translators were. It was fascinating to observe their struggle to try and capture certain concepts in Kinyarwandi.

By the end of the day I was super-tired and needed a nap. I was able to get a strong hour and a half nap and was good to go for the rest of the evening.

I am looking forward to a new day of training.

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Posted by Jorge at 03:03 PM | Comments (0)

September 25, 2007

Steven Reflects on the Arrival in Rwanda

Yesterday passed by in a blur of plane flights (landings in Rome, Addis Ababa, Nairobi and, finally Kigali).

Returning to Africa is a deeply emotional experience for us in many ways. The reunion with our friends and colleagues from Zambia, Nigeria and Rwanda was joyous after the last 10 months of communication and support via email and phone. Rwanda truly is "the land of 1000 hills." The city, carpeting the hills, is bustling with life. Evidence of reconstruction and development is everywhere. The legacies of ethnic conflict and genocide are not visible to us newcomers.

After settling into our rooms (with a breathtaking balcony overlooking the eastern hills of Kigali), and taking a much needed shower, we met with staff from CARE International in our hotel restaurant (a veranda with another spectacular view) to make arrangements for next week's training and consultation. Delphine and Maimouna were delighted at the timing of the connection with Men's Resources International, as they are launching new programs where male involvement will play a critical role.

We then moved to another table where members of the Rwanda Men's Resource Centre executive committee had gathered to welcome us to Rwanda. We were impressed with the social stature of the men Fidel has recruited, and their excitement about the MRI training.

After dinner, we gratefully and quickly went to bed.

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Posted by Jorge at 02:45 PM | Comments (0)

September 24, 2007

Reunion of colleagues from Zambia Men's Network and Ebonyi MRC in Addis Ababa airport.

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Posted by Jorge at 06:17 PM | Comments (0)

September 23, 2007

Steven Writes En Route to Rwanda

Dear Friends,

James, Adin and I are 3900 feet over the Atlantic Ocean, on our way to Rwanda. It's a 20 hour journey (with a refueling stop in Rome and a change of planes in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia).

In Addis, we will meet our colleagues from the Zambia Men's Network, Stephen Mbati and Stencilous Phiri, who will join us for the trip to Kigali (the capital of Rwanda). We will also be joined in Rwanda by our colleagues from the Ebonyi Men's Resource Centre in Nigeria, Ugo Nnachi and Uduma Uduma. We will be met in Rwanda by our colleague Fidel Rutayisire, founder and chairman of the Rwanda Men's Resource Centre.

We are gathering again (having been together in Nigeria last November) to conduct our training on engaging men in ending gender-based violence for members of the Rwanda Men's Resource Centre (RWAMREC) and others from the community. And to continue to build the network of connection and support among men and women in Africa who are doing this work. We are excited and humbled by the opportunity to continue to support these initiatives Men's Resource International has helped to launch over the past year and a half.

The challenges are daunting -- centuries of violence and oppression, cultural legacies of patriarchy, extreme pervasive poverty, lack of funding for programs. And yet, these leaders have committed themselves to pursuing the vision of building networks of men allied with women for ending violence and promoting positive masculinity.

Our three-day training, funded completely by individual donors to Men's Resources International, will include more than thirty Rwandans (in addition to the international delegates). With support from Dean's Beans Organic Coffee Company, four representatives from "up-country" coffee cooperatives will be attending. Following the training we will facilitate a strategic planning meeting with members of the RWAMREC board of directors.

During our second week in Rwanda, James, Adin and I will conduct a similar training and consultation with CARE International staff who are eager to develop male involvement in their violence prevention and reproductive health programs.

We will do our best to keep you updated on these experiences through regular blog entries, and photographs. You can send us your thoughts and blessings by posting comments on this weblog or emailing us at info@mensresourcesinternational.org. On behalf of all of us gathering in Rwanda, we thank you for your interest and support.

In faith, Steven

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Posted by Jorge at 04:54 PM | Comments (0)

September 21, 2007

Rwanda: The Journey Begins

Associate Director James Arana, who with Executive Director Steven Botkin leaves for Rwanda on Sunday, September 23, writes:

Our journey to Rwanda started during a meeting in the Haymarket Café in Northampton Mass. where we handed over some copies of our brand new, hot-off-the-press MRI brochure to Adin Thayer of the Karuna Center. Adin was leaving for one of her many trips to Rwanda and asked if we would like her to pass out our brochures. A few months later, Fidèle Rutayisire of Rwanda emailed MRI to get information on how to start a men's center and the communication never ceased. Fidèle did his research and, after long emails and phone consultations with MRI, assembled his potential board members together and the Rwanda Men's Center was born. Six months later, Fidèle joined us in Nigeria for an MRI training.

What a pleasure it was to meet Fidèle after months of email and phone conversations! He, along with 35 other Nigerians, Zambians, and MRI staff from the Americas, embarked on a rigorous training to help bring everyone together around the work of supporting African men to end gender-based violence.

So, to say that we are excited to be going to Rwanda is an understatement. The realization that I'm going back to Africa, the motherland, is overwhelming. This trip is important to MRI because to support a people and a country that has gone through so much harrowing violence over its recent past is an honor. We've listened to Fidèle, joined in his work to form the Rwanda Men's Center, and, though there's much yet to be done, we join in his pride of the accomplishments so far.

You can follow our progress in Rwanda by visiting this blog during the time that we are there. We invite you to share in the exhilarating development of the Rwanda Men's Resource Centre.

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Posted by Jorge at 07:07 PM | Comments (0)

July 25, 2007

A Phone Call from James in Liberia

We received a wonderful phone call this afternoon from James who is still in Liberia. He has just returned to Monrovia from travels to the villages of Karnplay, Saclepea, and Ganta in rural Nimba county. In each community he met with representatives from the mens' and women's action groups, training IRC staff to conduct interviews to assess the impacts of the Male Involvement Project.

The ride to Karnplay, which was supposed to take an hour and a half, actually took twice that long due to washed out roads full of mud and craters. This allowed the IRS staff time to practice their interviewing skills with feedback from James. They worked on adapting the questions to be more easily understood in "Liberian English." They also practiced asking questions in a way that would not be interpreted as threatening or judgmental.

Women and men from groups in all areas gave remarkably consistent and resoundingly positive feedback:

• Women are feeling safer in their communities
• Women are feeling more empowered to take actions
• A number of men have stopped beating their wives and children
• More girls are going to school
• Group and community members are refraining from assigning heavy labor to children

A number of men from different communities openly spoke about their past violent behavior -- both verbal and physical -- and their efforts to change. Both women and men said they have witnessed profound changes in their own lives, in their peers, and in their communities.

A number of men spoke about how they had begun sharing domestic duties and responsibilities with their wives that they would not have ever considered in the past:

• Carrying water
• Preparing meals
• Sharing information and decisions about finances

One man in his 60's told about how he was always the king of his household. When he first heard about women's issues, he dismissed it. There is no issue! Slowly he began to listen. Slowly he began to wonder if his wife actually respected and cared about him -- or if she just feared him. While they were walking, he noticed that she was both carrying their child in her arms, and their water on her head. Like always, he carried nothing. The next day, his wife was astounded to see him carrying the water for his own bath. He has also begun to help with preparing food, and helping with other household duties.

Posted by Jorge at 04:42 PM | Comments (0)

July 20, 2007

Liberian Stakeholders Gather

Recognizing that the Male Involvement Project has made tremendous progress, and committed to creating a broad based social change process, today IRC has organized a "Key Stakeholders Male Involvement Strategy Planning Workshop." Representatives from the Ministry of Gender, police, youth services, and men's and women's action groups as well as IRC staff attend.

The meeting begins with presentations about the background and history of the GBV program and male involvement project from Gertrude (IRC national GBV coordinator), Navanita ad Ballah. WAG and MAG representatives then give stirring testimonies about the profound impacts the male involvement initiative has already had on their communities, confirming the stories we have already heard over the past two days from IRC staff.

James and I then facilitate the group in a discussion about their ideas for how to continue to expand the involvement of men as allies with women for ending violence against women, and how they can work together to make this happen. It is a unique and exciting opportunity for diverse community sectors to talk and listen to each other, and many promising ideas are discussed, including fostering community leadership and community-based organizations, advocating for stronger enforcement of government employee policy on violence against women, and outreach to religious and educational institutions.

As we met, IRC submitted their Year Two funding request for the Male Involvement Project to Irish Aid, with high hopes that many of the ideas generated by the IRC staff and this stakeholders workshop will be carried forward in the years to come. Gertrude concluded the workshop by expressing IRC's commitment to continuing to bring together these stakeholders in a participatory, community empowerment process. And James distributed MRI "Courage = Compassion" t-shirts to all participants.

Posted by Jorge at 02:17 PM | Comments (0)

July 19, 2007

Chicken Soup Factory Redux

The drive from the IRC office passes through Red Light (named, like many places in Liberia, after landmarks that no longer exist -- destroyed in the war). This bustling market place and transportation hub for the ubiquitous taxis and small vans could certainly use that red light. Honking vehicles seem to be driving in every direction at once, weaving through throngs of people carrying all sorts of bowls, baskets, and packages on their heads, and moving products and lumber in wheelbarrows. Everyone is dodging huge potholes. Because it is rainy season, puddles like small lakes and deep mud are everywhere.

Our morning session focuses on raising awareness about gender dynamics within the staff team, and practicing cross-gender communication skills so they can educators and role models for the women's and men's action groups with whom they work. In separate gender groups they identify appreciations and concerns about how they are interacting. The dialogue that ensues when they come together to share these observations with each other demonstrates how far they have come in listening to and trusting each other. Subtle issues of male control are able to be sensitively addressed, and strategies for sharing food preparation and serving responsibilities are developed (and immediately put into practice).

In the afternoon we reviewed a number of topics from the February MRI training handbook that staff requested to increase their competency in teaching to others. This was followed by generating ideas for the next steps with the men's action groups.

We end the day with several hours of debriefing at the IRC office, and dinner at our hotel celebrating James' birthday.

Posted by Jorge at 02:11 PM | Comments (0)

July 18, 2007

Chicken Soup Factory

This morning we packed 18 people into a small van (not an unusual experience here) and traveled from the IRC office to the community of Chicken Soup Factory (named after the business that was there before the war). We are conducting two days of staff training in the Chicken Soup Factory women's center for the women and men who attended our introductory training in February.

In our previous visits to this women's center it was constructed primarily of grass mats on a cement foundation of a demolished single room structure. Now, a whole new meeting room with a metal roof and plaster walls painted a beautiful blue had been constructed out of what had previously been a front courtyard.

Most of our first day was spent giving staff a variety of opportunities to explore their assessment of the successes and challenges of the Male Involvement Project since its inception eight month age. This staff group, social workers and trainers based in three different Liberian counties separated by 5-9 hours of rough roads, has few opportunities to be together as a team. The discussion, punctuated by pounding rain creating an almost deafening drumming on the roof, was very important to them.

They shared many stories of men and women making real changes in the lives of the women, men and families of their communities. Men are now referring cases of domestic violence and sexual assault to the IRC social workers. Men and women's action groups in collaboration with community leaders are working together to develop and enforce community rules and regulations about family violence. Men are directly approaching men who have been abusive to challenge them on their behaviors, and support them in developing respectful attitudes and behaviors towards women. Women are more confident in their outreach activities, knowing they have male allies in the community.

In June, the Men As Partners to End Violence Against Women (MAPEVAW) campaign mobilized more than 4000 men and women in nine communities using street parades, sports programs, speakers, skits, songs, chants, dancing, posters and stickers. Over 1700 people in Monrovia marched, chanting and singing, several miles to a rally in City Hall. And one of the major cell phone companies in Liberia, Lonestar, sent a text message to 150,000 subscribers reading "Real Men Do Not Abuse Women- Please join the IRC in supporting its campaign on Men AS Partners in Ending Violence Against Women- June 25-29, 2007."

We also heard about a recent regional meeting of IRC GBV staff from Liberia, Sierra Leone and Cote D'Ivoire where the Male Involvement Project was highlighted. Representatives from several of the men's and women's action groups conducted several of the awareness-raising activities they learned from Men's Resources International to demonstrate strategies for male involvement.

Even as we were meeting with the IRC staff, a Regional Interagency Meeting on GBV, including government officials from Guinea, Cote d'Ivoire, Sierra Leone and Liberia as well as NGO representatives from IRC, UNICEF, Save the Children Alliance, CVT, CCF, Oxfam, UNFPA, UNHCR and others were sharing strategies for GBV response, intervention and prevention. In radio and newspaper interviews, the Liberian Ministry of Gender and Development publicly acknowledged IRC's leadership in involved men in working with women to end gender-based violence.

We ended the day taking Navanita out to dinner at our favorite restaurant with tables literally on the beach, just yards from the surf. We sat under a round thatch roof to protect us from the intermittent rain, learned more about Navanita's previous work in India and Papua New Guinea, and further developed a shared vision for strategic GBV program development in Liberia.

Posted by Jorge at 12:12 PM | Comments (0)

July 17, 2007

The Men's Group Monitoring Guide

Our goal today was to field test the Men's Group Monitoring Guide developed by MRI marketing and communications director, Daniel Coyne, and revised in consultation with Navanita, Getrude, and other GBV management staff. After checking in at the IRC office we left for the ELWA community outside of Monrovia.

Sitting in the shade of a large burned out cinderblock building we met with members of the ELWA men's action group. They were delighted to respond to our questions about how the Male Involvement Project has affected themselves and others in their community. As sounds of drumming and singing emerged from the building, and children played noisily nearby, we listened to the men talk earnestly about how their lives had changed as a result of their involvement in the men's action group. A community leader described how he is now hosting gatherings at his home where he is "preaching" about the Men As Partners approach and helping to men to change their behavior towards women.

We then moved to another corner of the building to sit with members of the women's action group to hear their perspectives on the men's action group (MAG). They described the significant changes that the men's action group has inspired in their community and the increased their feeling of safety for women and girls that has resulted. They described how the men's action group contributed their time and money to get t-shirts printed for the women's action group, and is helping them build a women's center. And, even though there are times when the men fall back into patterns of dominating the joint meetings of both groups, the women are able to express this to the men, and the men readily change this behavior.

After ELWA we drove to Chocolate Factory (yes, there was a chocolate factory there before the war) to meet with men's and women's action group members in that community where we heard very similar feedback about the Male Involvement Project. In both places we heard stories of men's increasing involvement in the traditionally women's housework activities (such as cooking and cleaning).

The biggest challenge that was consistently described was how to make involvement in gender-based violence prevention activities economically sustainability. With unemployment at 80-90% the first priority for these men and women is to find ways to feed their families. While there is no doubt about their commitment to violence prevention and their eagerness to engage in outreach and awareness-raising in their communities, their availability for these activities is limited by this basic need.

Posted by Jorge at 02:21 PM | Comments (0)

July 16, 2007

Video, Photos, and a Regional Meeting

It is unbelievably great being back here in Liberia in a familiar place and faces. Our day began the way it usually does, with very little sleep and much enthusiasm. Steven and I looked at each other faces and smiled that mischievous look of "can you believe it," we are really here for the second and third time, and acknowledge our blessings.

When we got to the office, big smiles and hugs welcomed us from Ballah, Edwin, Musu and the others. Meeting Navanita Bhattacharya, the new GBV Program Coordinator, for the first time after communicating by email and phone so many times, gave us a great sense of camaraderie. We quickly dove into a discussion about the latest developments in the GBV program, and the goals for our visit -- staff training, developing and testing monitoring and evaluation systems, and facilitating a strategic planning meeting of key constituencies. We also heard news about recent developments in Liberia (such as the shutting down of the University after a student strike).

We then joined the GBV staff meeting, reconnecting names with faces, and beginning to learn how they perceive the successes and challenges of the Male Involvement Project since its inception in November 2006. The 15 people (all but two of whom are women) remembered the many questions and concerns they raised in our first meeting that November. They reported that these questions and concerns had been addressed, men were willingly engaging as partners with women and women were very happy to have them involved. Listening to the current challenges and goals of this amazing staff group, we were impressed with how much has been accomplished over the last eight months using the training and technical support we have provided. It is obvious to us that there are few, if any, similar projects in the world right now.

We spent the rest of the day in additional planning and strategizing meetings with GBV/MIP leaders. Their readiness to move the program to its next stage of development, and receptiveness to our insights and recommendations is inspiring and exciting.

Posted by Jorge at 01:47 PM | Comments (0)

July 14, 2007

Newark Airport en route to Liberia

Greetings from the Newark, New Jersey airport. James and I have a five hour layover en route to Liberia (after another change of planes in Brussels, Belgium). We are returning to Liberia for a third consultation to the International Rescue Committee's Gender-Based Violence (GBV) program.

The relationship between Men's Resources International (MRI) and the International Rescue Committee (IRC) began last fall. IRC had decided to expand their GBV program to include men, and received a grant from the Irish government to create a Male Involvement Project (MIP). Recognizing that they were in relatively uncharted territory, IRC hired MRI to provide training and technical assistance for this project.

Over the past nine months IRC-Liberia, with support from MRI, has quickly and effectively developed their vision for this project into a unique and exciting initiative that is spreading throughout the country. During the first MRI visit in November 2006 we provided orientation and training for the newly hired MIP officer, Joseph Ballah, assisted the GBV staff in understanding the goals for male involvement, and met with the Ministry of Gender and Development and other key constituencies. The second visit in February 2007 included a three-day staff training, supervision for MIP staff as they conducted similar trainings for newly forming Men's Action Groups (MAGs), a training for community leaders sponsored by the Ministry of Gender and Development, and an interagency workshop for members of the national GBV task group.

Men's Action Groups (MAGs) have now formed in nine communities throughout Liberia, in collaboration with the Women's Action Groups (WAGs) that IRC had already been supporting. Leaders from the MAGs and WAGs began planning a one-week community awareness raising campaign -- Men As Partners in Ending Violence Against Women (MAPEVAW) -- which launched June 25-29 in all three counties (Lofa, Nimba Montserrado). In July, IRC-Liberia hosted a regional exchange visit of IRC/GBV Staff from Sierra Leone & Ivory Coast to see the MIP Project activities to learned new promising practices to be taken back to their respective programs.

James and I are now returning to Liberia to provide follow-up training for GBV staff involved with the Male Involvement Project, to support GBV staff in conducting a monitoring exercise in each of the 9 communities, and to provide consultation for the new GBV Program Coordinator, Navanita Bhattacharya, national GBV Coordinator, Gertrude Garway, and other key constituencies on the development of a longer term prevention strategy.

This is a remarkable opportunity for both Men's Resources International and the International Rescue Committee. Together we are pioneering a model for engaging men in community-based initiatives throughout Liberia for ending gender-based violence. With the vision, leadership and staff support of IRC the men and women involved in this project are developing their awareness, skills and collaborative power to influence the norms and behaviors in a country that is emerging from a devastating history of violence.

We will do our best to keep you updated on this journey with regularly posts (and sometimes photos) on this blog. Thanks for your interest and support!

Posted by Jorge at 09:40 AM | Comments (0)

February 16, 2007

MRI in Liberia: Saying Goodbye

This morning, with mixed feelings, I packed my bags and checked out of the hotel. James and I spent most of the morning with Kelly, debriefing the past two weeks, sharing our recommendations, and planning for the additional week of James’ stay. We all agreed the consultation and trainings have been tremendously successful, and see great value in continuing to build on the IRC/MRI partnership.

James and I took Ballah out for lunch in appreciation of his dedication and hard work in launching the Male Involvement Project and taking care of us during this visit. He expressed deep gratitude for the key role that MRI has played in his professional development and in establishing a strong foundation for the project.

Before departing for the airport, we helped Ballah and Kelly draft monitoring forms for the men’s action groups, and a form for gathering feedback about the men’s groups from the women’s action groups. We were also treated with a visit from Gertrude (GBV National Program Coordinator) and her 2-month-old baby, Berit.

After heartfelt goodbyes, James accompanied me on the 45-minute drive to Roberts International Airport for the long journey home. We were both sad to be separating, but grateful that he will have another week for additional consultation and training. He will be supervising the Monrovia based MIP trainers in their two day practicum. Then, the IRC trainers from Lofa, Nimba and Montserrado will come together and he will provide additional feedback and group facilitation training. If possible, a follow-up meeting with Ministry of Gender and Development staff will also be arranged.

There is no doubt that our time together with the IRC team in Liberia has been used effectively and produced great value for many different groups (IRC staff, men’s action groups, women’s action groups, Ministry of Gender and Development, international NGOs, community organizations, and MRI). We are grateful to IRC for the vision, commitment and courage to launch a Male Involvement Project. We know we have also learned as much as anyone.

— Steven Botkin, Executive Director
Men's Resources International, USA

To read a compilation of all blog entries from Liberia with pictures, click here.

Posted by Daniel at 01:54 PM | Comments (0)

February 15, 2007

MRI in Liberia: GBV Task Force of the Ministry of Gender and Development

Today’s training was presented to members of the GBV Task Force of the Ministry of Gender and Development. Participants included representatives from UNICEF, UNFP, Christian Children’s Fund, Save the Children, the Ministry of Gender, and community-based organizations. They were all eager to learn about our approach to engaging men, and we were excited by the conversations about the personal, cultural and organizational implications. The idea of a coordinated national awareness campaign was introduced by Kelly, and strongly endorsed by the group. A sub-committee was formed to further develop a proposal to be brought to the full task force. Everyone left with a copy of our training handbook, a Voice Male magazine, a new consciousness about involving men in the work of ending violence, and stronger connections with each other. Bringing MRI back for additional training was a topic of post-workshop conversation among a number of the participants.

— Steven Botkin, Executive Director
Men's Resources International, USA

To read a compilation of all blog entries from Liberia with pictures, click here.

Posted by Daniel at 04:56 PM | Comments (0)

February 14, 2007

MRI in Liberia: Reunited with James

After a night in Ghanta, Kelly, Edwin and I drove two hours to meet James and Ballah returning from their practicum training with a men’s group in Kolahun in Lofa. The ride back to Monrovia was filled with the excited sharing and comparing of our experiences, and drinking in the Liberian landscapes and villages.

— Steven Botkin, Executive Director
Men's Resources International, USA

To read a compilation of all blog entries from Liberia with pictures, click here.

Posted by Daniel at 04:54 PM | Comments (0)

February 13, 2007

MRI in Liberia: Gifts and Gratitude in Karnplay

Early this morning, I walked to the IRC-sponsored health clinic in Karnplay. There was already a large group of women and children waiting outside. Since I did not have time to wait, I discussed the situation with the IRC staff. Their social worker, Alice, took Josephine to the clinic, where she received a shot and pills. Alice will personally take her to the clinic for the next two days for follow-up treatment. It was impressive to see the coordinated system of IRC services mobilize to respond to this situation. I shudder to think of what might have happened to this girl if these services had not been available.

During the second day of training, more and more men stood up to talk about their own experiences of violence, as perpetrators, survivors and witnesses. More and more women stood up to speak, often in their native language, about the violence and disrespect they experienced from men. The men, as a group, asked the women how they could support them, and responded with words of commitment to serve as allies, role models, and change agents in their community.

The training ended with the signature Men’s Resources International pole ceremony. Each person tied a length of fiber (brought from home) to the pole. As they stepped back, holding one end, we created a large circle of connection. Turning the pole, we wound the ribbons together into a symbol for their community. By the time James and I leave, there will be four communities with poles like this one. Upcoming trainings from the IRC Male Involvement staff will produce an additional six, created by men’s and women’s groups throughout Liberia. And they all know they share this symbol with communities in Zambia and Nigeria and the United States. The web of connection is growing.

To my surprise, another ceremony followed. The commu