Strengthening the Social Fabric: Generations, Genders & Community Connection

For too long, adolescent boys have been cast as risks-future perpetrators of violence, obstacles to gender equity, or problems to be dealt with. In the Balkans, where patriarchal norms remain deeply entrenched, Program Y and the Young Men Initiative (YMI) flipped that script. Instead of sidelining young men, we invited them to take an active role. 
Through peer-led workshops, school and community-based activities, and youth-driven campaigns, boys confronted the costs of harmful masculinities-violence, isolation, poor health-and co-created new visions of empathy, equality, and respect. They began to see themselves not as perpetrators-in-waiting, but as co-creators of healthier, more equitable societies. What began as a local pilot has since expanded across schools, youth centers, and even into policy frameworks-demonstrating the transformative power of engaging men and boys in social and behavior change (SBC). 
While men hold systemic power, boys are rarely invited into the work of equity. By engaging them early, Program Y and YMI transformed potential resistance into leadership-turning boys once viewed as risks into advocates for healthier relationships and champions for change in their schools and communities. By grounding transformation in trust, dialogue, and co-creation, Program Y and YMI show that sustainable change is possible when communities-especially young people-co-own the process. This story demonstrates that equity flourishes not through top-down solutions, but through collective voices reshaping relationships and building solidarity. 

In the Comarca Ngäbe-Buglé of Panama, strict gender roles and social divisions often limit health engagement and intergenerational connection. As a Peace Corps Volunteer, I discovered that the soccer field was more than a place to play, it became a platform to unite people, shift norms, and strengthen both health and community ties. 
After playing with the community for several months, I became close with one of our players, Kevin, a 27-year-old who grew up using soccer as a refuge from hardship. Starting his soccer journey at the age of 7, his coach taught him more than skills, he taught him respect, teamwork, and how to channel frustration into resilience. His story reflected what I was witnessing all around me: here, soccer isn't just a sport, it's a language of trust, leadership, and emotional expression. 
By playing alongside the men's (14–30+) and women's (16–30+) teams, I earned trust not as an outsider, but as a teammate. Together, we co-created lineups, practices, health discussions, and leadership roles. Women stepped into spaces where they had long been absent, modeling confidence for younger girls, while teammates built genuine connections with each other and with me. 
Through this shared space, participants learned to manage emotions, build physical strength, and practice teamwork while challenging gender norms and bridging generational divides. This story shows how culturally rooted, youth-led activities like soccer can be powerful SBCC platforms, which integrate mental and physical health, shift behaviors through participation, and build resilient, connected communities.

Em São Tomé e Príncipe, o Inquérito MICS 2019 revelou que 84% das crianças entre 1 e 14 anos sofreram sanções disciplinares violentas, frequentemente normalizadas no ambiente familiar. Para enfrentar essa realidade, o Ministério do Trabalho, com apoio do UNICEF, implementou sessões comunitárias de mudança social e comportamental voltadas às beneficiárias do programa Família Vulnerável/PEP+, com o objetivo de promover práticas de cuidado e proteção à infância.
Durante a implementação nos distritos, emergiu a história de "Sonho": uma menina de 12 anos que, após perder a mãe e ser abandonada pela família, tornou-se criança de rua. Em busca de abrigo, encontrou um "marido" e engravidou, acreditando que assim teria um lar. Sua infância foi interrompida, seus direitos violados.
Hoje, Sonho é mãe de três filhos e tenta, com afeto e dedicação, ser a mãe que nunca teve. O conhecimento adquirido nas sessões de educação parental financiadas pelo UNICEF transformou sua forma de cuidar. Sua trajetória é um testemunho de superação e um alerta sobre os impactos da exclusão e da negligência.
Ao liberar narrativas como esta, plantamos sementes de transformação. A abordagem de mudança social e comportamental, centrada na escuta ativa e na liderança partilhada, permite que cada comunidade se torne protagonista da sua própria mudança. Sonho não é apenas uma mulher, é uma metáfora viva da infância roubada e da força coletiva que pode restaurá-la.