Posts tagged Male Role Model

Welcome to The Pixel Project’s “30 For 30″ Father’s Day Campaign 2015! In honour of Father’s Day, we created this campaign:

• To acknowledge the vital role Dads play in families, cultures and communities worldwide.
• To showcase good men from different walks of life who are fabulous positive non-violent male role models.

Through this campaign, we will be publishing a short interview with a different Dad on each day of the month of June.

This campaign is also part of a programme of initiatives held throughout 2015 in support of the Celebrity Male Role Model Pixel Reveal campaign that is in benefit of the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence and The Pixel Project. Donate at just US$1 per pixel to reveal the mystery Celebrity Male Role Models and help raise US$1 million for the cause while raising awareness about the important role men and boys play in ending violence against women in their communities worldwide. Donations begin at just US$10 and you can donate via the Pixel Reveal website here or the Pixel Reveal Razoo donation page here.

Our thirteenth “30 For 30″ 2015 Dad is Mike Reynolds from Canada.

__________________________________________________________________________________________

The Dad Bio

I’m an Ottawa born-and-raised husband and father of two who’s mildly obsessed with making sure my daughters never learn to colour inside the lines and with making sure they know they’re both one-of-a-kind. I’m always learning and always writing about the experiences I go through as a parent and about how eye-opening it is to watch a child grow up in this world. I also write bedtime stories with my daughters and share stories about the trials and tribulations of raising two girls after growing up in a house full of boys at puzzlingposts.com.

1. What is the best thing about being a dad?

Watching how easy it is for your children to make an impact on the world, from little things like picking up litter outside their school because they “don’t want to hurt the earth,” to them going to talk to a crying friend who’s nervous about being at school. It’s amazing to see the things they create, to see them learn new things, to have them read to you for the first time. Watching your own child grow is an invaluable gift.

I’m also an incredibly big fan of snuggles. I’ll always welcome snuggles no matter what time of day.

2. A dad is usually the first male role model in a person’s life and fathers do have a significant impact on their sons’ attitude towards women and girls. How has your father influenced the way you see and treat women and girls?

The biggest thing my dad taught me was to do what was right even if doing what was right wasn’t the most advantageous to me. He’s the kind of man who would tell a cashier if they forgot to charge him for a bag of chocolates. He also taught me that being a parent isn’t always easy. That there are early hockey practices to drive to, that there will be wounds to get stitched up, and that you’ll play the villain many times when raising a child, and that that’s not a bad thing.

3. Communities and activists worldwide are starting to recognise that violence against women is not a “women’s issue” but a human rights issue and that men play a role in stopping the violence. How do you think fathers and other male role models can help get young men and boys to take an interest in and step up to help prevent and stop violence against women?

I think there are hundreds or thousands, probably millions of ways, but a key one is simply treating women like humans. It’s so damn simple. Do this all the time and challenge yourself to not only be respectful but to call out people who aren’t, even if it means being the “party pooper” who calls out misogynistic jokes at the bar. It will be uncomfortable to do the first few times as your buddies tell you it was just a joke and to lighten up, but these simply aren’t subjects to joke about and sexism isn’t something to lighten up about.

There are microagressions everywhere, and you’ll discover yourself using quite a few of them, like I have. Don’t defend your use of them – get rid of them altogether. Don’t get upset when a women tells you they’re uncomfortable with something you’ve said. Listen to them, believe them and learn from it. Telling children that everyone is equal isn’t enough. Treat people that way when kids are around and when they aren’t.

It’s also important that you don’t reinforce archaic gender stereotypes. Moms and dads both clean. Moms and dads both cook. Moms and dads both read bedtime stories. Be active in every aspect of your child’s life.

Welcome to The Pixel Project’s “30 For 30″ Father’s Day Campaign 2015! In honour of Father’s Day, we created this campaign:

• To acknowledge the vital role Dads play in families, cultures and communities worldwide.
• To showcase good men from different walks of life who are fabulous positive non-violent male role models.

Through this campaign, we will be publishing a short interview with a different Dad on each day of the month of June.

This campaign is also part of a programme of initiatives held throughout 2014 in support of the Celebrity Male Role Model Pixel Reveal campaign that is in benefit of the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence and The Pixel Project. Donate at just US$1 per pixel to reveal the mystery Celebrity Male Role Models and help raise US$1 million for the cause while raising awareness about the important role men and boys play in ending violence against women in their communities worldwide. Donations begin at just US$10 and you can donate via the Pixel Reveal website here or the Pixel Reveal Razoo donation page here.

Our twelfth “30 For 30″ 2015 Dad is Mugisho Theophile Ndabuli from Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

__________________________________________________________________________________________

The Dad Bio

I am Mugisho Ndabuli Théophile. I was born in DR Congo in 1969. Now I live in Rwanda.  My wife Bahati is also from DR Congo; we have three children – two daughters and a son. We had our first child in 2007. I teach English and courses related to peace, conflicts, and violence at University. I am also doing a PhD in Gender and Development. I am passionate about women and children’s rights; in 2009 I cofounded COFAPRI (www.cofapri.org) to help rural women and children who are victims of rape and domestic violence in DR Congo. Our family often travels to DR Congo to visit family and for work.

1. What is the best thing about being a dad?

Being a father gives me internal peace and more pride. As my wife and I spent more than six years childless, I can better understand and appreciate what being a dad really means. When my children call me Daddy, I feel happy. I also share my full pride at being a dad with the mother of my children and my full respect also goes to her.

Being a dad gives me more responsibilities as children cause me to consider my actions a lot more as I have observed that my children follow my lead in a positive way and take me as their role model in life.

Being a dad also affects my work with COFAPRI in a positive way as being a dad helps me better understand the needs of the children COFAPRI serves in my country –  rural children born of rape who not only lack fatherly moral and material support but also suffer discrimination because they never knew their own fathers.

2. A dad is usually the first male role model in a person’s life and fathers do have a significant impact on their sons’ attitude towards women and girls. How has your father influenced the way you see and treat women and girls?

My father has truly been a role model in my life in different ways. He was a community leader who committed his life to protecting women and children and he taught me how to respect and value women and children, at home and in the community. I became motivated about women, girls, and children because of the family environment in which I grew up. Dad, Mum, and Grandma have positively shaped and influenced my attitudes and beliefs toward women and children.

My father died in 2000, some months before I got married and I have carried into my heart and implemented his precious advice by cofounding COFAPRI. Inglenook used to tell us ‘he who does not value his mother, his wife, or his sister dies like a dog.’  The world without women is meaningless, hopeless, and colourless; women create harmony between human beings and the ecosystem. Thanks to women, men become what they are; women feed and educate children who are the pillars of the future society. Women take care of the elders and the sick in communities; we could fail to do this correctly. Such beliefs shaped my valuing of women and children.

3. Communities and activists worldwide are starting to recognise that violence against women is not a “women’s issue” but a human rights issue and that men play a role in stopping the violence. How do you think fathers and other male role models can help get young men and boys to take an interest in and step up to help prevent and stop violence against women?

The abuse of women is not a women’s issue but everyone’s concern. Women are human beings yet abuses against them are committed as women are considered as second class people – people without rights.

Young boys and men often behave the way of their fathers and teachers. Therefore fathers who are respectful to and supportive of women and girls will foster their sons’ love toward women. Through home basic education, the boys can internalise respect for women, which can bear positive results in the future.

This informal home education can be supported by schools and the government can play a role by enacting and strictly enforcing laws that value women. This can open a way to preventing violence to women and hope for a future where women enjoy their rights.

Welcome to The Pixel Project’s “30 For 30″ Father’s Day Campaign 2015! In honour of Father’s Day, we created this campaign:

• To acknowledge the vital role Dads play in families, cultures and communities worldwide.
• To showcase good men from different walks of life who are fabulous positive non-violent male role models.

Through this campaign, we will be publishing a short interview with a different Dad on each day of the month of June.

This campaign is also part of a programme of initiatives held throughout 2015 in support of the Celebrity Male Role Model Pixel Reveal campaign that is in benefit of the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence and The Pixel Project. Donate at just US$1 per pixel to reveal the mystery Celebrity Male Role Models and help raise US$1 million for the cause while raising awareness about the important role men and boys play in ending violence against women in their communities worldwide. Donations begin at just US$10 and you can donate via the Pixel Reveal website here or the Pixel Reveal Razoo donation page here.

Our eleventh “30 For 30″ 2015 Dad is Dana Williams from the USA.

__________________________________________________________________________________________

The Dad Bio

I was born in San Antonio, Texas. My father was in the military and my two brothers and I grew up mostly in France and England. I joined the Navy when I was 17 and was a jet mechanic. I’m retired from the U.S. Civil Service after 32 years. I worked many jobs but mostly was an industrial engineer while in the service. After I retired I worked as a truck driver to make ends meet. I rode motorcycles when I was well enough; I even had a baby seat attached to the back of one of my Harley’s. I have four daughters and one son.

1. What is the best thing about being a dad?

I cannot imagine not having my kids around – I would be so lonely in this world. The best thing now that I’m old is that I can count on them, and know I always can.

2. A dad is usually the first male role model in a person’s life and fathers do have a significant impact on their sons’ attitude towards women and girls. How has your father influenced the way you see and treat women and girls?

It was always really clear to me that men were not supposed to be violent towards women. My father would not have allowed it.

He never allowed my brothers or me to talk back to our mama. None of us had to talk about it, it was just expected that we respected our mother the way our daddy respected her.

3. Communities and activists worldwide are starting to recognise that violence against women is not a “women’s issue” but a human rights issue and that men play a role in stopping the violence. How do you think fathers and other male role models can help get young men and boys to take an interest in and step up to help prevent and stop violence against women?

Don’t just say your beliefs but live them. Hypocrisy is not the path of true men. Also, ensure your children respect their mother and expect them to do what’s right.

Welcome to The Pixel Project’s “30 For 30″ Father’s Day Campaign 2015! In honour of Father’s Day, we created this campaign:

• To acknowledge the vital role Dads play in families, cultures and communities worldwide.
• To showcase good men from different walks of life who are fabulous positive non-violent male role models.

Through this campaign, we will be publishing a short interview with a different Dad on each day of the month of June.

This campaign is also part of a programme of initiatives held throughout 2015 in support of the Celebrity Male Role Model Pixel Reveal campaign that is in benefit of the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence and The Pixel Project. Donate at just US$1 per pixel to reveal the mystery Celebrity Male Role Models and help raise US$1 million for the cause while raising awareness about the important role men and boys play in ending violence against women in their communities worldwide. Donations begin at just US$10 and you can donate via the Pixel Reveal website here or the Pixel Reveal Razoo donation page here.

Our tenth “30 For 30″ 2015 Dad is Chester Chan from the United Kingdom.

__________________________________________________________________________________________

The Dad Bio

My name is Chester Chan and I am Dad to Alfie and Annie who are 7 and 5 respectively. I work as a dentist in the county of Wiltshire and I live in Surrey. My hobbies include gardening and cooking. I am involved with my kids’ school activities, especially with the events which are held throughout the year.

1. What is the best thing about being a dad?

Apart from the challenges of being a dad, the children bring happiness and satisfaction when they are happy and progressing well with the things they do. I have a long drive each day so rarely see the kids in the morning unless they wake up before I leave for work at 6.30am. I get back in time for bath and story time which is the best time of the day as we have a good chat about the day. We go swimming at the weekend and during the winter Alfie plays rugby on Sundays.

Cuddles and chats are the best as you learn a lot about what they are doing and what they are learning day by day. When you see your children are happy, thriving and learning to be respectful young people, you definitely feel satisfaction and a great sense of pride.

2. A dad is usually the first male role model in a person’s life and fathers do have a significant impact on their sons’ attitude towards women and girls. How has your father influenced the way you see and treat women and girls?

Respect and a positive attitude towards women and girls comes from both parents as well as day-to-day education. My father was more ‘old school’ and I learnt more from my mother. Some of his mistakes have been the greatest lesson in teaching me about respecting women and other people.

3. Communities and activists worldwide are starting to recognise that violence against women is not a “women’s issue” but a human rights issue and that men play a role in stopping the violence. How do you think fathers and other male role models can help get young men and boys to take an interest in and step up to help prevent and stop violence against women?

The most important lesson to pass on to children is to set a good example and teach respect in everything. This will lead to a well-rounded person who understands the world and how to be a good person.

Welcome to The Pixel Project’s “30 For 30″ Father’s Day Campaign 2015! In honour of Father’s Day, we created this campaign:

• To acknowledge the vital role Dads play in families, cultures and communities worldwide.
• To showcase good men from different walks of life who are fabulous positive non-violent male role models.

Through this campaign, we will be publishing a short interview with a different Dad on each day of the month of June.

This campaign is also part of a programme of initiatives held throughout 2015 in support of the Celebrity Male Role Model Pixel Reveal campaign that is in benefit of the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence and The Pixel Project. Donate at just US$1 per pixel to reveal the mystery Celebrity Male Role Models and help raise US$1 million for the cause while raising awareness about the important role men and boys play in ending violence against women in their communities worldwide. Donations begin at just US$10 and you can donate via the Pixel Reveal website here or the Pixel Reveal Razoo donation page here.

Our seventh “30 For 30″ 2015 Dad is Harry Wu from Australia.

__________________________________________________________________________________________

The Dad Bio

My name is Harry Wu and I am from Melbourne, Australia. My daughter was born in January this year. Her name is Zoey Wu and she is our first child. It has been the most wonderful experience so far as a dad. During the day I work as an auditor for the State Government and after I come home from work, I am a full-time dad. No matter how my day went, Zoey’s smile always makes everything better. 

1. What is the best thing about being a dad?

“Changing diapers!”, says no one ever…

I think the best part of being a dad is really about growing with your child. It is extremely rewarding seeing your child grow, especially during those early days. They seem to change every single day. Each day as they grow, as a parent myself, I grow too. I have learnt to become more patient. This is especially true when my daughter cries for no reason and I am not able to soothe her. My time management skills have improved as well. You also become a more caring person in general because you always think about what’s best for your kid and this increased caring will also manifest in your attitude towards others.

2. A dad is usually the first male role model in a person’s life and fathers do have a significant impact on their sons’ attitude towards women and girls. How has your father influenced the way you see and treat women and girls?

My father has been a really good role model and a good influence over how I treat women. Since I was young My dad has always been very respectful of my mother. He has always showed his caring side especially when my mum needs him.

I still remember the one time my mum had a surgery and was staying in the hospital. My dad only finishes work late at night and still wanted to visit her, even though it was way past the visiting hour. We still went to the hospital and begged the security to let us in.

My dad doesn’t have the best temper in the world and we all know it’s common to have disagreements between husband and wife. Even then, he would never be violent or abusive and they would find their own ways to solve any conflicts respectfully.

3. Communities and activists worldwide are starting to recognise that violence against women is not a “women’s issue” but a human rights issue and that men play a role in stopping the violence. How do you think fathers and other male role models can help get young men and boys to take an interest in and step up to help prevent and stop violence against women?

Awareness is a key factor in ensuring our young men and boys understand the implications and the role they play in stopping violence against women. Childhood is a good time to reinforce these positive actions as their ability to understand other people’s experiences and feelings begin developing at this young tender age. I believe that as parents we are the ultimate role models for our children. Take my father as an example: he has often reminded me to ‘be nice’ to my mum but those words would be meaningless if he did not lead by example.