JOIN OUR MISSION TO HELP FOSTER A GENERATION OF EMPATHETIC, NON-VIOLENT, RESILIENT AND EQUITY-FOCUSED BOYS & MEN!
For less than $1/day you can ensure one more boy in Guatemala has access to our programs.
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WHY INCLUDING BOYS & MEN IS A CRITICAL PART OF OUR GENDER EQUITY WORK
Did you know that when it comes to crimes of gender-based violence, over 95% of perpetrators are male. 1
Despite this staggering statistic, the vast majority of gender equity and women's empowerment programs continue to refuse to include programs for boys and men in their work. When the vast majority of incidents of violence towards girls and women, are caused by boys and men, how can we hope to see real and lasting change when we continue to cut them out of programs?
When we fail to include boys and men in our gender equity work, we are not only limiting the potential for impact, but also could be putting the very girls and women we seek to support at further risk. In our programs, girls learn to speak up for themselves, to set boundaries, to advocate for their rights, and leave unhealthy relationships. Applied in a context where deeply rooted patriarchal norms often dictate that girls and women are to accept and remain in their subjugated positions, these tools of empowerment can be viewed as a direct threat to the men in their lives, who have historically held power and control over them. If these men react with violence, these dangerous reactions compromise the safety and the lives of the very girls and women we are endeavoring to serve. As a result, when we fail to include boys and men, gender equity and girls and women's empowerment work is not only less effective, but also dangerous.
When we fail to include boys and men in our gender equity work, we are not only limiting the potential for impact, but also could be putting the very girls and women we seek to support at further risk. In our programs, girls learn to speak up for themselves, to set boundaries, to advocate for their rights, and leave unhealthy relationships. Applied in a context where deeply rooted patriarchal norms often dictate that girls and women are to accept and remain in their subjugated positions, these tools of empowerment can be viewed as a direct threat to the men in their lives, who have historically held power and control over them. If these men react with violence, these dangerous reactions compromise the safety and the lives of the very girls and women we are endeavoring to serve. As a result, when we fail to include boys and men, gender equity and girls and women's empowerment work is not only less effective, but also dangerous.
REALgirl (SERniña) is committed to doing things things differently to ensure the true empowerment of girls and women
At REALgirl/SERniña we have never been afraid to do things differently, to challenge the status quo. And, in 2017 we did just that, when we launched our first ever program for boys (SERniño). In the last seven years, our efforts to include boys and men has only grown. In fact, over 1,000 boys and men have already participated in our program.
The results of these efforts speak for themselves. In our communities where boys and men are included in our programming, we have seen the following results:
The results of these efforts speak for themselves. In our communities where boys and men are included in our programming, we have seen the following results:
- The number of reported cases of violence among participants* dropped by 45%
- 79% of participants* reported experiencing less violence in their homes
- 73% of participants* reported feeling safer in their homes after the Testing Period
- 70% of individuals report improved relationships between spouses
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Help Us Continue to Pioneer and Implement Change-Making Programs
Though many studies have proven the impact of including boys and men, funding has not followed. Foundations, governments, donors, and the general public remain reluctant to fund boys programs. This is where you come in.
As a follower and supporter of REALgirl/SERniña, we are grateful for your ongoing trust in our programs. We believe that, just like us, you are not afraid to question existing systems, challenge the status quo, and try something new. Currently, most of our funding is earmarked only for our work with girls and women, meaning our programs for boys often do not receive the support and funding they need to thrive. Help us improve the lives of the girls in the communities we serve, by supporting our transformative work with boys and men.
As a follower and supporter of REALgirl/SERniña, we are grateful for your ongoing trust in our programs. We believe that, just like us, you are not afraid to question existing systems, challenge the status quo, and try something new. Currently, most of our funding is earmarked only for our work with girls and women, meaning our programs for boys often do not receive the support and funding they need to thrive. Help us improve the lives of the girls in the communities we serve, by supporting our transformative work with boys and men.
1. Douglas, H. (1991). Assessing violent couples. Families in Society, 72 (9): 525-535.
