On 8 September in Bangem, Visionary Care Foundation (VCF Cameroon) witnessed a powerful moment, adolescent boys imagining a different kind of manhood.
Through sports-based dialogue and creative expression, participants explored the “masks” society places on boys:
- Dominance
- Emotional suppression
- Breadwinner expectations
- Fearlessness at all costs
Yet when invited to draw the men they aspire to be, their illustrations reflected something radically different, boys who are:
- Respectful
- Caring
- Emotionally open
- Supportive of others
This second session under our flagship programme Catch Them Young, and the project Champions for Change: Engaging Adolescent Boys to Prevent VAWG, Shift Negative Masculinity, and Promote Gender Equality, demonstrated the boys’ eagerness to challenge harmful norms and redefine masculinity.
In partnership with Shalom Football and Sports Academy, we are investing in boys early, before attitudes become entrenched, empowering them to choose empathy, equality, and dignity over silence or domination.
As our facilitator concluded:
“True strength is not found in violence or control, but in respect, care, and standing up for what is right.”
These sessions show us that when boys are given space, guidance, and safe platforms, they do not just imagine change, they choose to become it.
