Men’s Resources International

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Men’s Resources InternationalEducating, Consulting & Organizing for Positive Masculinity1695 Main Street, Springfield, MA 01103 tel 1.413.214.6797 fax 1. 413.214.6200ZambiaMen’s NetworkLeadershipTrainingw w w.mensresourcesinternational.org

Welcome(excerpted from the Zambia Men’s Leadership Training handbook)It is with great enthusiasm and humility that weat Men’s Resources International join you on thisjourney to understand and alleviate men’s violence;to heal the harm it has done; and to advance amore compassionate and understanding model ofmasculinity.We are excited to listen and learn from yourperspectives, experiences, and work. We also hopeto share with you our knowledge, skills, and toolsfrom over 25 years of experience working withindividuals, groups, and communities aroundissues of sexism and men’s violence.We acknowledge that this important work cannotbe done alone. We seek the blessing of our elders,the support of our friends and families, and thealliance of women and feminist organizations.We are grateful to the YWCA of Zambia and theZambia Men’s Network for their commitment,vision and collaboration.Together we can lay the groundwork for positivechange.We come together with open arms and open minds;with strength and courage; with warmth andforgiveness; and with hope and faith for a morepeaceful and compassionate world.Let’s begin!In commitment and faith,Steven Botkin & James AranaMen’s Resources International (MRI)AcknowledgementsMRI is a non-governmental organization head-Men’s Resources International (MRI) gratefullyquartered in the United States. MRI’s mission is toacknowledges the generous contributions of thepromote positive masculinity and help end men’sDBL Foundation, the Sparkplug Foundation, theviolence by supporting men’s initiatives in diverseSamuel Rubin Foundation, anonymous donors,communities around the world, and developingComputer donors, and Jack Hornor, and thea global network for men committed to genderinvaluable support of our extended network ofequality and ending violence and oppression.friends and allies.2

SummaryPurpose of TrainingOn June 6. 2006, Steven Botkin and James Arana of Men’s Resources International traveled to Lusaka, Zambia in the southernpart of Africa to conduct a Men’s Leadership Training for theZambia Men’s Network. The event was hosted by the ZambiaYWCA and was funded by private U.S. donors.To increase the effectiveness and sustainability of the ZambiaMen’s Network by providing consciousness-raising, teambuilding, skill training and strategic planning for its membersand allies.Twenty men and four women participated in the training, whichfocused on positive masculinity, violence prevention, and genderequality. Steven and James employed a combination of ritual,story-telling, consciousness raising, and team building to create a safe space for participants to share their own stories andrecognize the effects of sexism on their own lives and the lives oftheir loved ones. This provided a personal context for discussingsensitive gender issues, and a compelling foundation for addressing more practical lessons on community outreach, leadershipskills, organizational development, and financial sustainability.Specific Goals1. A leadership circle of men and women with clear valuesand strong relationships acting as resource people and rolemodels in their communities for gender equality and violenceprevention.2. A group of men prepared to lead consciousness-raisinggroups, gender awareness programs, advocacy campaigns,and mentoring.3. Visibility and support for the mission of the Zambia Men’sNetwork from diverse sectors of the community.4. An action plan for members of the Zambia Men’s Network.The formal training took place over three full days. In the daysbefore and after the training, however, meetings with key leadershelped MRI understand the social and political dynamics, establish relationships of trust, and reinforce lessons learned.BackgroundWhile it is too soon to judge the long-term impact of the training, feedback from the participants and organizers has beeninspiring. Unsolicited responses given in person, by telephone,and via e-mail, have universally described the experience aspowerful, illuminating and motivational. As a result, participantshave a renewed commitment to the success of the Zambia Men’sNetwork, and to developing relationships among like-mindedorganizations from around the world.In January 2005, Stephen Mbati from Zambia contacted Men’sResources International requesting assistance in the creationof a Zambia Men’s Network (ZMN) as a project of the ZambiaYWCA “to involve men, male youths and boys in the fightagainst gender based violence in Africa.” In March, Men’sResources International organized, hosted and partially fundedStephen’s 10-day study-tour of men’s violence prevention programs in the United States.Steven and James returned home excited and eager to continuethis work in Zambia, Nigeria and other African nations.See reports at www.mensresourcesinternational.org/newswire.php.5. Connections with a global network for gender equality andviolence prevention.The study-tour coincided with the United Nations’ 49th session of the Commission on the Status of Women (“Beijing 10”).Stephen Mbati and Steven Botkin, executive director for Men’sResources International, were invited to make a presentation fordelegates to this conference as part of a UN-sponsored instituteon working with men and boys for gender equality.In May, MRI was contacted by one of the delegates who attended the presentation. Ms. Ugo Nnachi, founder and directorof a Nigerian women’s organization, Daughters of Virtue andEmpowerment Initiative (DOVENET), requested collaborationon the creation of a Men’s Resource Center in her state of Ebonyi,stating:The role of men in eliminating violence against women has oftenbeen neglected and I must confess that the Men’s Resources International has offered us a deeper insight into how men can interveneand partner with women in eliminating violence in our familiesand society.Steven Botkin and James Arana of MRIWomen in Nigeria and from our State have suffered various formsof violence ranging from Wife Battering, Rape, Acid Bath, HarshWidowhood Rights, Disinheritance, Spousal Murder, IncestThreats, Psychological Violence, Verbal Abuse, Abandonment of3

Home and Children, Sexual Denial etc. As an organization alreadyworking in the area of Women and Human Rights, we have identified men allies who are willing to join the crusade but who need tobe trained in skills to carry the process forward.[See complete letter at r.pdf.]The collaborative relationships between Men’s Resources International and both the Zambia Men’s Network and the EbonyiMen’s Resource Center have already been tremendously fruitful.After Stephen Mbati’s study tour, Men’s Resources Internationalcontinued to support him with information, ideas and a networkof colleagues. In November 2005, the Zambia Men’s Networkheld its formal public launch in a ribbon-cutting ceremony ledby the Zambian Minister of Health and attended by Zambiandignitaries and many of the 71 male ZMN members.In Nigeria, Ugo Nnachi, with MRI support, organized a “stakeholders’ meeting” in June. Attended by over 30 people, mostlymale, the idea of an Ebonyi Men’s Resource Center was stronglyendorsed, and a steering committee was formed.Both Stephen Mbati and Ugo Nnachi state that the support ofMen’s Resources International has been critical in helping themlaunch their men’s initiatives. They each requested an MRItraining for their members and key community leaders. TheJune 2006 Zambia training was in response to this request. Inpreparation for a fall 2006 Nigeria training, a representative fromDOVENET/Ebonyi Men’s Resource Center traveled to Zambiato participate in this training.Training AgendaMonday, June 12: Consciousness Raising Training overview Definitions Examples of gender-based violence in Zambia and Nigeria Women telling their stories Male socialization and the role of men in ending violence Men telling their stories Review and discussion of Zambian attitudes towardsmasculinity survey Changing attitudes and behaviorsTuesday, June 13: Activism Remarks by Zambia YWCA board chair, MRI executivedirector, Zambia Men’s Network, DOVENET Nigeria Obstacles and strategies for reaching men Strategies for change: community education, advocacycampaigns, mentoring Overview of women’s and men’s movements Reproductive health and the fight against HIV/AIDS Men and women as allies Action planning groupsWednesday, June 14: Organizing & Sustainability Men showing up Counseling skills Organizational structure and membership Economic sustainability Closing ceremony & celebrationOnsite MRI StaffSteven D. Botkin, Ed.D.Director, Men’s Resources InternationalExecutive Director Emeritus, Men’s Resource Center for ChangeSteven Botkin founded the Men’s Resource Center of WesternMassachusetts (MRC) in 1982 and received his doctoral degreein Social Justice Education from the University of Massachusettsseveral years later. He guided the MRC from a grass-roots groupof volunteers into a successful non-profit community-basedorganization, whose programs have become a model for men’sorganizing in communities around the world.Steven Botkin with Stephen Mbati in Amherst, MA. January 2005In 2004 Steven left this position to found Men’s ResourcesInternational to support the development of men’s programs indiverse communities and build a global network. Dr. Botkin haspresented lectures and workshops and provided resources for colleges, organizations and individuals throughout the United Statesand the world, including the United Nations, Japan, Zambia andNigeria.4

James AranaProgram Director, Men’s Resources InternationalJames Arana is a social worker with more than 25 years of working with youth and adults in New York City and Massachusetts,including Unitas Therapeutic Community, I have a DreamProgram, and the NYC Board of Education. A native of Belize,James spent his teenage and young adult years living in the SouthBronx. He has a bachelor degree in Social Work from MercyCollege in New York City and has completed one year at SmithSchool of Social Work.The Training ParticipantsZambian young men: The majority of the 25 participantswere male Zambian “youths.” This African classificationrefers to single men ages 18 to 35 years of age who are not yetsettled in a career or family. As members of the Zambia Men’sNetwork, many have already been volunteering their timethrough the YWCA providing counseling, outreach andcommunity programs.YWCA female staff: The presence of 4 or 5 of female participants (depending on the day), including the executive director,Ms. Katembu Kaumba, heightened the sense of respect andrelevance for the topics of gender sensitivity and violence forthe whole group. Their intelligence, honesty, courage, andself-respect provided a strong contrast to some of the prevailingstereotypes of women in Zambia.Nigerian delegate, Patrick O. Amah, Administrative Officerof DOVENET, and Project Steering Committee Member of theEbonyi Men’s Resource Center in Nigeria. As an elder emissaryfrom another African nation, “Uncle” Patrick helped Zambianparticipants recognize the scope and significance of their efforts.Reflections from MRI ProgramDirector, James AranaThe Zambia YWCA Men’s Network Training was a success,because of our many years of experience, our careful preparation,our commitment to leaving our selves open, and trusting in ourability to meet the challenges together.Our skills were immediately tested when we stood with our bagsfor two hours at the Lusaka airport in Zambia. We used the timeto take in the magnitude of where we were and the excitementabout what we were doing. The language, intonations, inflectionsand smiles took me back to my childhood in Belize. When ourhost finally came running with open arms and apologies for beinglate we were ready.Settling into our accommodations in the home of our host family,we continued to learn about life in Zambia — a place where waterdoes not flow all the time, electricity comes and goes as it pleases,and time is not ours to control.The next few days were spent meeting many of the peoplewith whom we would be working, and continuing to overcomelogistical challenges for the training. A dinner with Ms. Kaumba(YWCA executive director) helped us understand the hardshipsher organization has been enduring, and forge our friendship andrespect for each other.The training participants were a delight in their eagerness tolearn and share their experiences and challenges in workingin their communities around gender based violence. It was acold smack of their reality to understand that men and womenbetween the ages of 18 to 35 were routinely considered “youth,”because of their lack of employment (unemployment is over 50%).Over and over again the stories of the lack of opportunity wereZambia training participants5

being told by young and old alike. I felt despair from seeing andfeeling their talents for reaching out, their skills and passions forthe work — with no opportunity to sustain themselves or theirfamilies.We spent a significant amount of time in the training discussingnext steps for the Zambia Men’s Network, and brainstormingabout possible scenarios for financial sustainability. We heardmany impressive and innovative ideas. A high point in thetraining was when these participants presented their action plansfor economic development to elders from their community whoare poised to support them when we are no longer there. Eachmember expressed how affirming it was to have the elders andwomen embrace their ideas, suggestions and vision. The validation was moving and an important step in building communitysupport for their work.I am proud of the work we did in Zambia. The confidence in ourown skills and our openness to cultural diversity enabled us towork with this new population easily and effectively, creatinga powerful current that swept our group towards action andpositive change. I believe, with our continued support, that thismomentum will be sustained and increased, and our Zambianbrothers and sisters will be joined by allies in other African countries and from all over the world. I am committed to making it so.Responses from Zambian Participants “This workshop has transformed me. I learned that women areas important as men and they need my support and protectionand, most important, love.” “We all experience pain. Men and women alike should.find asolution together as one.” “I was happy to hear some of the concerns which affect womencome from men’s mouths.” (From a woman participant.) “I felt so moved by testimonies of the Nigerian experience.Now I see how deep this issue is.” “As people spoke of their childhood abuse, I learned that Iwasn’t alone. It somehow brought healing to me.” “How closely related we are as human beings, regardlessof where we come from. I was taught to believe that a manshould never cry, should never have compassion, true love,should never show love to the wife, and above all should alwaysbe in control — however he can do it — even at the expenseof a woman. I am motivated to share with my brothers andcousins at home what happens if we do not take care of ourfeelings by bottling them up just because we are either men orwomen.” “I became so emotional [with] love and compassion to hearmen and women telling their stories. I yearn to learn more. Ihave developed a passion for reaching out to people.” “[I have come to feel that] one can cause change in his or herlife for the better no matter one’s [position or] upbringing.” “I have a sense of hope and urgency that the programmes thatwe are embarking upon today should be implemented and notjust put aside.” “[I am eager].to start the work. We have a very big job to do.” “Great things are in store for the Zambia Men’s Network.” “I now know that the Zambia Men’s Network will go far inseeing gender-based violence brought to zero.”James Arana and children in the village of MRI’s host, Simuyi. “The vision for the future is one of the most important partsof this workshop because it allows us to formulate personaland organizational [strategies] to help men’s network forgeahead for generations to come.”6

Reflections from Nigerian DelegateMr. Patrick O. Amah,Programs Administrative Officer, DOVENET, NigeriaProject Steering Committee, Ebonyi Men’s Resource Center(EB-MRC), NigeriaWhen the training started on Monday June 12, 2006 at theLodge Serenity venue, it was clear to me that this would be quitedifferent from the training workshops I had attended in thepast. My first impression was that Men’s Resources Internationalbased their training on practical experience. As we began, I sawthat they were working to create a powerful experience for theparticipants as well.EvaluationSteven and James created an atmosphere of “brotherhood” inwhich it was safe for participants to share their experiences bothof pain and privilege. Hitherto, most of the participants (as theylater admitted) had lived in a world they were not prepared toshare with anybody. But in just a few hours, those participantsbecame free from what I have chosen to call “bondage of thehuman person.” Genuine healing was achieved.MRI distributed and collected evaluation forms from eachparticipant for each day of the training. Additionally, MRIconducted surveys of both participants and non-participantsregarding attitudes toward gender sensitivity issues. All of thesewere immediately read and used to shape the remainder of thetraining. MRI has since begun to process the evaluations morecarefully for insight about how to improve future trainings.As I continue to reflect on the training, one thought dominates:no one among us will ever be the same — especially in our attitudes towards women and girls. I am now firmly convinced thatgender-based violence will continue to be challenged throughoutour lives, and that those of us who participated in this trainingwill live our lives in harmony and understanding — with bothmen and women — and share that vision with others.To quantify the effectiveness of the Zambia Men’s LeadershipTraining on gender-based violence in Zambia is beyond thecurrent resources of MRI. However, it is clear that this traininghas lent momentum to a burgeoning awareness of gender issues;an action plan for the development of a Zambia Men’s Network;and a sense of optimism and commitment for the work ahead.Follow-up surveys will be conducted with training participantssix months after the training.Computer Donation PlanA few weeks prior to the training, a plan was developed to havedonated computers delivered to Zambian schools, in collaboration with the Reverend Abednego R. Mambwe, founder of NewVision for Africa. For a relatively small fee, MRI could releaseover 20 computers and arrange for the training participants todeliver them to local schools, providing an immediate and positive engagement with children, teachers, and the community.MRI was able to quickly raise the necessary funds. However,upon arrival in Zambia, it was learned that the cost to releasethe computers had risen dramatically and without explanation.Although the computer donation plan did not work out this time,MRI was still able to deliver to New Vision for Africa a significant number of much-needed, donated batteries and software.MRI supporters who contributed to this computer plan wereoffered a refund or the option to use their donation to supportfuture programs.MRI will continue to support the formation of the ZambiaMen’s Network as much and as long as we are able and welcome.We have opened channels among like-minded groups and haveencouraged ongoing communication and support.Practical Notes and Lessons Learned U.S. dollars go a long way in Zambia The presence of an outside perspective from anotherAfrican country (e.g. Patrick Amah from Nigeria

part of Africa to conduct a Men’s Leadership Training for the Zambia Men’s Network. The event was hosted by the Zambia YWCA and was funded by private U.S. donors. Twenty men and four women participated in the training, which focused on positive masculinity, violence prevention, and gender equality.

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