Under the slogan “Positive Manhood is a Community Responsibility,” Aspire Community Transformation, the “Masar Ekhteyary” program on Sunday, December 15, 2024 a program that is funded by the Embassy of the Netherlands in Egypt. This initiative aims to train and engage men through a series of workshops designed to foster an environment where they can realize their full potential.

The program is intended to help young men rediscover their identities while developing their skills, values, talents, and dreams, all while enhancing their understanding of their roles in society. By tackling entrenched societal norms, the program introduces a new concept of “positive masculinity” through empowering activities. Notably, it employs a 360-degree approach, focusing on not just the participants but also involving their families, teachers, students, and community leaders.

The launch ceremony commenced with remarks from Aspire officials who expressed gratitude to Peter Mollema, the Ambassador of the Netherlands in Egypt, and Caroline Nassif, the embassy’s program officer, for their support and funding of the project. The officials emphasized that the program’s foundation had been laid, with the embassy providing crucial resources to help realize the vision behind “Masar Ekhteyary.”

The idea for this initiative originated over 10 years ago when Aspire focused primarily on empowering women. However, it became clear that achieving sustainable development necessitated the empowerment of all societal segments, including men. While women play a vital role in society, focusing solely on their empowerment without considering men’s development will hinder the pursuit of balance. Sustainable change requires the involvement of both men and women in the development process to create a more inclusive and equitable society.

Nanis Yousry, Aspire Community Transformation Director, discussed the program’s objective of cultivating a healthy and balanced community. She noted that the initiative has received overwhelming support from the men involved, with 1,500 participants to date and a goal to reach 12,000 over the next three years.

During the ceremony, Bassem Emad, CEO of Aspire, encouraged workshop participants to become ambassadors for changing traditional notions of manhood within their communities. A significant moment of the event included the signing of a memorandum of understanding between Aspire, represented by BassemEmad, and the Embassy of the Netherlands in Egypt, represented by Ambassador Peter Mollema. This agreement aims to enhance family stability in Egyptian society and foster relationships characterized by mutual understanding and respect, leading to stronger and more cohesive communities.

Raymond Barsoum, Project Manager, elaborated on the program’s design and emphasized its unique feature: the creation of safe spaces where men, women, and families can interact and support one another. These safe spaces facilitate community participation in activities that promote empowerment and understanding, empowering community leaders to challenge existing misconceptions and raise societal awareness.

Barsoum also shared that Aspire has conducted around 15 awareness sessions targeting men, along with two family-focused events, utilizing experiential learning and interactive exercises to foster community engagement.

An interactive exercise was conducted with attendees, drawing from the training and activities experienced in the workshops. This aimed to illustrate the various factors influencing individual behavior and how participants might improve themselves and their relationships with others. Aspire aspires to achieve noticeable improvements in awareness among men and boys to mitigate violence and discrimination against women. According to official statistics from the Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics, 22.2% of men practice psychological violence against women, 25.5% of husbands have employed physical force, and 47% have engaged in sexual violence against their partners. Additionally, statistics from the Egyptian Center for Public Opinion Research (Baseera) reveal that 44% of working women who graduated between 2016 and 2018 earn less than 2,000 Egyptian pounds (about 69 euros), compared to only 23% of men in the same category.

The event showcased various activities reflecting the “Masar Ekhteyry” program’s distinctive approach to addressing masculinity issues in Egyptian society. Attendees shared personal stories illustrating the project’s significance and its impact on their lives. The ceremony culminated with testimonials from men who completed the 12-session training, discussing the transformative changes in their perspectives following the guidance of their trainers.