The Young Men Initiative (YMI) project, launched in 2006, was implemented in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Montenegro, Kosovo, and Serbia by CARE International Balkans and local partner organizations. As a continuation of CARE’s efforts to prevent gender-based violence (GBV) and promote gender equality, YMI targeted youth to enhance their knowledge and attitudes on gender equality and healthy lifestyles while reducing violence. Initially based on small-scale qualitative research on young men’s attitudes and behaviors, YMI expanded into a comprehensive program involving young people, parents, teachers, educational workers, university students, journalists, and other key stakeholders. Over the years, it directly reached more than 600,000 people in over 130 communities through thousands of activities.
The initiative utilized the Gender Transformative Life Skills programs (Program M and Program Y), inspired by Promundo’s work in Brazil and adapted to the regional context (see Phase 1 & 2).
Through formal and non-formal education, YMI sought to mainstream positive behavioral changes by engaging key stakeholders, including Ministries of Education, public agencies, academic institutions, secondary schools, teachers and educators, and youth organizations. A key objective was the integration of Program M and Program Y into national educational curricula and obtaining official accreditation for teacher training. To achieve this, the project piloted these programs in selected vocational and secondary schools, built capacities of schools, teachers, and other educational staff, and reached university teacher trainees to ensure sustainability.
YMI also focused on empowering marginalized groups, including Roma, Ashkali, and Egyptian community leaders, and strengthening youth organizations’ capacities to deliver life-skills education. Public campaigns targeting youth, fathers, male caregivers, coaches, and other role models used social and traditional media to raise awareness and promote gender-equitable attitudes and parenting practices.
The project was structured around four key areas of intervention:
By engaging over 50,000 young people in the Balkans, YMI fostered a network of trained educators, youth organizations, and schools working together to ensure the sustainability of gender-transformative education.
To improve gender equality and decrease interpersonal and gender-based violence across Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Kosovo, Albania, and Croatia by promoting healthy, non-violent, and gender-equitable lifestyles among young men and women.
Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Kosovo*, Albania, and Croatia.
The project was supported by the Government of Switzerland, Swiss Development Cooperation, Austrian Development Cooperation, CARE Deutschland, and Oak Foundation.
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