“From where I stand: my job is to get men involved in protecting the rights of girls and women"

Gerald Kathumba is a fisherman and a   HeForShe change agent challenging harmful gender norms in southern Malawi. Created by UN Women, the HeforShe movement is mobilizing men and boys, like Gerald, to take action for a gender- equal Malawi. Here is a Tale of Transformation in his own words.

“Growing up in  Makawa, a fishing village on  Lake Malawi, I saw the hard lives of women and girls. Fishing, controlled by men, often left  young girls vulnerable to abuse. Parents, looking for quick money, , forced them to  work at the fishing market, exposing them to various dangers.

When the HeForShe UBRAF Project, championed by UN Women came to our community, I committed to be a change agent. The HeForShe Campaign in Mangochi targeted Makawa as it is known as a hotspot for gender-based violence and exploitation. 

HeForShe’s message deeply resonated with me, calling for men and everyone to support women. I grew up in a home where my father abused my mother. Seeing the unfair treatment of girls and women, especially at the fishing market, also drove me to seek change. My job is to get men involved in protecting the rights of girls and women, fighting gender-based violence, and supporting HIV prevention. As a change agent, I work daily to raise awareness about gender-based violence, prevent early marriages, and promote positive masculinity among men and boys.

Our quick response to violence, ending child marriages, and mediating disputes has made us well-known, even among chiefs. Chiefs now call on Change Agents to help handle complaints in their courts.

One major challenge in our community was the delay in resolving cases, discouraging women and girls from reporting violence. With Change Agents involved, cases are now identified and managed quickly, encouraging more women and girls to report incidents, knowing they will get the help they need.

Our influence has reached neighboring areas. Despite using our own resources to travel to these distant places, our efforts have been recognized by the local government.

The success of HeForShe is evident not just in numbers but in real changes in our daily lives. Domestic violence has reduced, cases are being resolved,  showing a positive shift in how masculinity is viewed and practiced in Makawa.

The Unified Budget, Results, and Accountability Framework (UBRAF) HeForShe project in Malawi is a transformative initiative aimed at promoting gender equality and combating gender-based violence. This project, supported by UN Women, focuses on engaging men and boys as agents of change to support women's empowerment and rights. Through community-led interventions, awareness raising campaigns, and the establishment of support structures, the UBRAF HeForShe project addresses deep-rooted societal norms and fosters a culture of respect and equality.

The Unified Budget, Results, and Accountability Framework (UBRAF) HeForShe project in Malawi is a transformative initiative aimed at promoting gender equality and combating gender-based violence. This project, supported by UN Women, focuses on engaging men and boys as agents of change to support women's empowerment and rights. Through community-led interventions, awareness raising campaigns, and the establishment of support structures, the UBRAF HeForShe project addresses deep-rooted societal norms and fosters a culture of respect and equality.