Lets Not Forget the Boys – Thrive Global

I havebeen engaged in international relief and development fundraising for many years,and I have learned a lot about humanitarian aid and sustainability. Over theyears, several program interventions have touched both the emotional andlogical sides of my thinking and personal giving.

Two ofmy favorite programs are girls education and livelihood development. Knowledgeis a lifelong skill that brings empowerment, and education for girls results inhealthier families, less early-life pregnancies and increases in householdincomes. Progress in the last 20 years has been significant for girlsenrollment rates although there are still huge barriers caused by poverty,cultural norms and practices, limited infrastructure and safety issues.

Livelihoodprograms help families by teaching them new ways to support themselves andgenerate income by earning and saving money. One breakthrough practice is groupsavings which has helped poor people, particularly poor women, in thedeveloping world access safe places to keep their savings. What is amazing isthat the loan repayment rate for micro-loans in some of the poorest communitiesaround the world is over 90%.

Everyimportant social issue is impacted by literacy how to read and write, how todo basic math. Ensuring that girls and women have access to education andfinancial tools has broken the poverty cycle for millions of people. However,the international community has recently recognized that if mens attitudestowards women arent changed, then programs which focus on women will bemarginally successful in generating change.

That iswhy I am worried about boys. They dont seem to get as much development attentionas girls. And not just boys in poor communities, but boys around the world.

Below isa short list of things for parents and caregivers to do when raising boys,recognizing that boys are developmentally different from girls. Boys tend to bemore physical, boys are less communicative or verbal than girls, and boys tendto be more impulsive than girls. Helpingyour child understand and manage their feelings is a skill that will allow themto enjoy long-term happiness in life, regardless of their gender.

As amom, I believe that change starts at home. Please help your boys respect thefemales in their lives and develop the emotional intelligence needed for themto thrive.

Link:

Lets Not Forget the Boys - Thrive Global