The goal? To enlist men and boys in the struggle to end violence against women by promoting concepts of masculinity that embrace relationships of equality and respect.

“We start by recognizing that in the matter of gender-based violence, the ones who suffer most from it are women, and the people who perpetrate this violence are mostly men,” says project coordinator Anthony Peña Flores. In the interview, Anthony describes how one young man overcame homophobic misconceptions and learned that its’ okay, even good for you, to show emotion and tenderness to other men.

Topics addressed in the masculinities workshops include the social and cultural roots of machismo, what gender-base violence is and how to eradicate it from personal relationships, fatherhood, sexuality and managing emotions, and violence against women in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Marleny Constantino Lucumí, who coordinates programs to end gender-based violence at Centro Santa Angela, acknowledged that achieving gender equality is an uphill battle. The empowerment of women is also key. “It’s difficult, but not impossible,” she say. “It’s a matter of advancing little by little so that women come to understand their rights . . . and how to defend them.”

Heart-Links board director Sara Alva Lizarraga agrees that the kind of changes Heart-Links projects support do not happen overnight. Yet the projects Heart-Links finances with the donations we receive often lead to larger changes down the road. “It’s great for us to see how this seed we have supplied begins to grow and to generate programs that become self-sustaining,” she says.

You can watch the whole interview below. Follow the instructions to add English subtitles.

If you’d like to watch more news from Correo Canadiense, subscribe to their YouTube channel here.

Heart-Links is grateful to the Cambia Development Foundation for their financial support of the Men for Gender Equality project.

Here’s a taste:

With the help of podcaster Safa Shahkhalili and illustrator Amanda Schutz, the series will share stories from Heart-Links and 7 other OCIC members—Bhutan Canada Foundation, CAP Network, Canada-Mathare Education Trust, Inter Pares, Partners In Health Canada, Rayjon Share Care, YMCA of Greater Toronto—and our respective international partners.

A lunchtime launch event at 12 noon, Monday, February 8, kicks off the series. Join us through zoom to

• Reflect on the importance of International Development Week, and why a partnership approach matters
• Hear from podcaster Safa Shahkhalili about her approach to creating the series and engaging with partners around the world
• Hear from illustrator Amanda Schutz about her artwork and artistic process
• Engage with participants about what’s at the heart of their podcast stories

REGISTER FOR THE TAPESTRY 2030 LAUNCH HERE

Two new episodes of Tapestry 2030 air each week. Heart-Links’ episode airs Thursday, February 11, just one day before our own celebration of solidarity, Share the Love @ Home.

Here’s to celebrating International Development Week with you!