Let NEW MASCULINTIES shine!

Our volunteers are essential in our project. Among many other things, they support us in our library, outdoor activities, language classes and after school help with homework.

The presence and interaction of our male volunteers with our boys and teenagers is crucial. It may take some time to establish a connection between them, but once that’s done, it can become a long lasting bond.

Diego Hartman, a young man who came to volunteer from Germany, is a clear example. His easy going nature and huge smile, makes it simple to become his friend.  I’d like to share a conversation I had with him.

Diego, tell me a little about yourself and why you decided to come volunteer at A Mano Manaba. 

Hello, before going to university I wanted to see the world and help people of the most vulnerable social groups in a developing country. I found the project in Don Juan called A Mano Manaba. I was fascinated about the diversity of work you can do. We work with children, teenagers and young women. I came to this project in Ecuador because these groups are the most vulnerable in a society full of toxic masculinity. 

Regarding “Machismo” in Manabí, what was your experience like? What was challenging for you? 

You feel the “Machismo” not only in the men on the streets, in the clubs or on the beach. You see it everywhere you go and not only in the men but also in the behavior of women. This was one of the most challenging things I had to learn because I always thought that women were the victims who wanted to liberate themselves of this mentally and physically damaging environment of “Machismo”. But it’s more complicated: with no income of their own, women stay in this environment to protect their children from more difficult situations. “Machismo” is not always marked by big actions, there is a “micro-machismo”, small gestures to show that they are the coolest, strongest all in all the best, like for example: to drive the motorbike without helmet or to drive only with one hand. 

Have you seen any change from the boys and girls in this respect? What do you think should be done in order to continue promoting “new masculinities” in the Manabí culture?

I see the children changing every day. In order to prevent physical punishment, we talk with the children a lot about these topics.The change in boys and girls starts when they realize that they can decide what they want to do in the library and for how long. This is the first step towards personal independence. 

As you can see, at At a Mano Manaba, we have been very fortunate to have Diego and many other volunteers support our project.

Thanks to your generous support, we sustain our programs and strive to do more.