International Men’s Day 2025: A Conversation About Manhood, Power, and Possibility

On International Men’s Day 2025, RWAMREC did not just join the world in celebrating men—it joined the world in rethinking what it truly means to be a man today. Every year, this date becomes a milestone for our organization: a day to step back and question the inherited scripts of masculinity that many boys and men grow up with. Scripts that tell them to be tough, to stay silent, to endure without help—and in the process, hurt not only themselves but also the people around them.

This year, something powerful happened. GIZ Rwanda invited RWAMREC to a panel discussion, bringing together experts and practitioners working to transform masculinities. It was also a proud moment, because as part of their International Men’s Day celebration, GIZ featured real “stories of change” from RWAMREC’s work—showcasing men across communities who have stepped out of the old box and embraced more caring, equal, and emotionally healthy ways of being.

A Panel That Asked Big Questions

The discussion brought together three leading voices in the field of male engagement and gender equality:

• Gisele Umutoniwase, Director of Programs, RWAMREC

• Shamsi Kazimbaya, Senior Program Officer at Equimundo,

• Najjingo Robinah, part of GIZ Rwanda’s “Men at Work” initiative

At first glance, some in the room noticed something unusual: on a day celebrating men, two of the three panelists were women. And yet, as Shamsi reminded the audience with a powerful metaphor:

“Do you think a fish thinks about the water it lives in?”

Just as people from marginalized groups often understand dominant systems better than those holding privilege, women have lived their entire lives experiencing the consequences of patriarchal ideas. They know what unhealthy masculinity looks like—not because they chose to, but because they had to.

And so, the question was not:“Why are women speaking about masculinity?”but rather:

“How could this conversation happen without them?”

Opening the Box

The session began with an interactive exercise RWAMREC uses in its community trainings: The Men Box.

Participants were asked: What does society teach boys and men they must be?

Voices from the room answered:

• Men must be strong.

• Men don’t cry.

• No one will save you—endure it.

• Don’t show vulnerability.

• Work hard.

• Provide.

• Be responsible.

• Be tough.

This box, participants agreed, is heavy. It demands much and gives little. But the room also explored something just as important:

What happens when men stay inside the box?

Men become emotionally isolated. They struggle in silence. They are discouraged from asking for help. And in many cases, the pressure to live up to these expectations fuels violence—against themselves and others.

Yet staying in the box can also come with privileges: men may gain social approval, a sense of authority, or recognition for “doing masculinity right.” But these come at the cost of emotional freedom, authentic relationships, and personal growth.

Breaking free from the box isn’t easy. Men may face criticism or uncertainty, but stepping out opens the door to emotional expression, healthier relationships, and a more authentic life—one where they are defined by their choices, not societal expectations.

As Gisele and Shamsi shared, Equimundo and RWAMREC may work in different countries, but their missions are like siblings: helping men break free from these limiting boxes in ways that are culturally relevant, empathetic, community-rooted, and grounded in human dignity.

Why This Work Matters

GIZ Rwanda’s celebration this year highlighted one core message:

Positive masculinity is not about changing who men are — it is about freeing them from expectations that harm them and restrict everyone.

Positive masculinity looks like:

• Care

• Emotional openness

• Respect

• Listening

• Equality

• Non-violence

• Accountability

• Healthier relationships

It is not just about men supporting women. It is about men living better, fuller lives themselves.

A Challenge from the Audience

During the Q&A, one participant asked:

“What can GIZ do better in this work?”

The panelists acknowledged that GIZ is already demonstrating strong leadership with its many initiative toward the promotion of gender equality, including through Men at Work, which fosters dialogue among male staff about masculinity, wellbeing, and gender equality.

However, there is still room for collective growth.

The challenge?

Reach the people not yet in the room.

Too many events attract those already convinced. For real transformation, we must go further:

• Young people who are not using traditional media

• Men and boys in rural areas

• Fathers who still feel trapped by the “Men Box”

• Men in positions of political and community leadership who can influence broader change

• Those who have never been invited into this conversation before

Gisele Umutoniwase noted:

“We need to use channels that reach not only the already transformed, but those who have not yet been reached.”

That is where the next chapter of this movement lies.

ALSO READ: Working with Men in Positions of Political Power: A New MenEngage Initiative and What Are Underutilized Strategies? for violence prevention by Prevention Collaborative

A Day That Feels Like a Starting Point

International Men’s Day 2025 did not end with answers.Instead, it ended with commitments:

To talk more.

To listen harder.

To reach further.

To recognize that gender equality is not a women’s issue—it is everyone’s issue.

For RWAMREC, the day was a reminder that:

• Healthy masculinities are possible.

• Change is happening—in stories, in families, in classrooms, in workplaces.

• And every man who steps out of the box creates space for others to breathe too.

As GIZ continues amplifying these stories, and as RWAMREC and partners keep walking with men and boys across Rwanda, the path forward feels hopeful.

Because when men transform, communities transform, families transform, and new possibilities open for everyone.