 |
| Awett Jared |
I am a male activist. I
currently work as the Programs Manager of an organization that works on the
issue of violence against men, women, boys and girls. I am thirty five years
old. I was born and grew up in a poor rural community in Kenya. I went to primary
school and secondary school all at rural as well.
After my secondary
education, my parents died. I had to feed and educate my siblings, since I was the
first born in a family of eight. I did not have any work. So, to put bread on
the table, I went to the nearest city to find work. It was not easy, but I
managed to odd jobs and enrolled myself in a college to study Sales and Marketing,
and Business Management.
With time, I got a job
with an airlines company. I worked there for two years. When my contract with
them came to an end, I did not renew it. Instead, I opted to do some community
work, since I had the passion for social work. I started by volunteering in an
NGO and also started learning the roles one could have in a place that did social
work.
I went ahead and began
to attend different training programmes in community development and project
management. Through my participation at the community level, I developed interest
in human rights. My first assignments were in the field of human rights
advocacy. I then proceeded to work in a peace organization, where my roles related
to human rights training, facilitation and peace building.
After doing this for
another three years, I started developing interest in the issue of gender-based
violence. This was mostly because I had a sister who went through a violent
relationship, and at the same time, I too was a victim. I also had many of my
friends who were victims of violence in their relationships.
I then decided that I wanted
to help get a solution for myself, my sister and my friends, and to society. That
was when a few friends of mine and I joined up and founded the Masculinity
Institute. It is a vehicle that we use to bring to the attention of the public,
that domestic violence is continuing to destroy so many relationships, and stress
on the need to end it.
We work
to transform social attitudes and practices that perpetuate all forms of
violence caused by negative ethnic socialization and gender discrimination that
affect women and girls most. MAIN believes that this is the right time to
change outdated cultural practices and religious doctrines which have
contributed to negative socialization. The acceptance of violence has pushed
boys and men into aggressive behaviours in some parts of Kenya especially those
inhabited by the pastoral communities and the slums around the country. By
eradicating archaic cultural practices men will be able to take responsibility
and eradicate gender discrimination and together men, women, boys and girls
will make meaningful contribution to development. As a process to ensure that
transformation is fast tracked, MAIN mobilize, empower and re socialize men and
boys to uphold human rights principles and values to ensure that all members of
community live in dignity. When individuals inspire positive change at domestic
level, they set a good example which should be adopted in the communities where
they live and beyond.
There have been many challenges
on the way – but one of the major ones is the lack of resources to address the issue
of gender based violence. We have, however, managed to address it by networking
with other partners and organizations to address the issue at a larger scale.
The response has been so amazing. We are happy for having helped change the
attitude of men and women on issues of violence. We also work with religious
and cultural leaders who are the gate keepers of our communities and they have
also been able to help address the negative norms that perpetuate violence
against women.