Men as Agents of Change in Kakuma Refugee Camp

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As my co-facilitator and I finalized preparations for the first of many Appreciative Inquiry (AI) focus group discussions that would take place in the newly painted Kakuma community center, young men arrived from across the refugee camp on bicycles. It had been raining that morning, but they forged through the mud to attend our workshop anyway. We predicted they would arrive prepared for a problem-solving exercise to fix aspects of their refugee situation. Or perhaps they’d think we would want to talk with them about why they perpetrate violence against women. We did neither.

As social science researchers with an aim to prevent gender-based violence (GBV) against women in complex environments—including refugee and conflict areas—we, too, were used to traditional modes of problem solving and the usual cynical approaches that emerge when working in humanitarian settings. In an effort to emerge from cynicism ourselves, we wanted to experiment with a new approach to GBV prevention: a more hopeful and transformative strategy.

We, therefore, designed a study to understand drivers that promote positive male gender socialization among male refugee youth. This is instead of the more intuitive, counter approach of understanding factors influencing men to perpetrate violence. It was also different from traditional GBV prevention efforts that promote education, employment, and empowerment among women.

Applying AI to GBV prevention efforts among refugees offered significant advantages over standard problem-solving methods. By leveraging strengths, participants were receptive to dialogue and therefore began envisioning change in a new way. AI promoted self-discovery and collaboration to dream about the positive future for men, in terms of both male gender identity development and promoting healthier relationships with women.

While observed as valuable in GBV prevention efforts in Kakuma, we believe this approach also holds great potential in other efforts and locations. Communities across Kenya, as well as other refugee settings and complex environments in the region, are at the brink of change in many areas. Application of AI in these various settings will not only be highly receptive as a change model, but also timely in terms of shifting cultural norms and change potential.

Following our final AI session together, the young men pulled out their phones and gathered everyone together for silly group photos. They wanted to remember this experience. “We’ve been inspired,” one shared, “and we believe we can make a difference in our community.” As they cycled off, now on sun-dried dirt paths that would carry them to various corners of the camp, we as facilitators looked at each other and smiled. Our cynicism had melted in the hot Kakuma sun that day, as we left the community center with a new sense of hope and purpose.