Men’s talking circles at APEF
It was the women who had taken the emancipatory training courses who approached the APEF facilitators. They felt that their fathers, husbands, brothers, etc. were not receptive and denigrated the reports they gave on the training they had received : gender, gender-based violence (GBV), the importance of civil marriage, inheritance, household income management, etc.
With this in mind, the APEF has decided to set up training courses for the husbands, fathers and guardians of the APEF learners to raise their awareness of these issues. For the APEF, it is important to involve men as allies in the debates and actions to be carried out for gender equity in Bukavu, and to fight against hegemonic masculinities.
The format initially planned was a training course of 4 sessions on similar themes of emancipatory training for women (concept of gender, gender-based violence, rights linked to marriage, mixed income management). This training, given at the APEF, was open to 15 men (husbands, fathers, tutors) for each promotion in progress, whether in literacy or sewing.
Challenges - What difficulties has APEF had to face during these training sessions ?
Absenteeism at meetings : Despite voluntary enrolment in these courses and a collective choice among the men about the times of the sessions, the men either came two hours late or didn’t come at all. Not working for a period of time meant a considerable financial loss to their day.
Disengagement : After 2 promotions, we realised that it was difficult to get men to talk to us and raise their awareness, because they were reluctant to do so. Tackling issues around the deconstruction of traditional and hegemonic masculinities in DR Congo is a thorny subject, and the men remained on their guard. We also identified a problem with the format of the sessions. The traditional "training" format was inappropriate and not attractive enough to mobilise and interest the men without them feeling blamed. The "top-down" or "vertical" teaching methodology did not allow the men to take ownership of the subject and to question themselves.
Reflexions - What adjustments has APEF made ?
In response to these difficulties, APEF took the time to readjust their approach to men. To do this, they drew inspiration from the "Habla Causa" approach adopted by their partner CENCA in Peru, which was presented during a peer-to-peer training session within the "Train to Transform" collective.
APEF has replaced "training courses on positive masculinity aimed at men" with "talking circles between men".
But what is a men’s talking circle ?
A talking circle is a non-mixed space for talking and listening in a café-restaurant (outside APEF’s walls) to meet in a neutral place.
APEF has chosen to invite men to an activity they enjoy in Bukavu. For this reason, the talking circles were held in a café-restaurant, as the men greatly appreciated talking to each other about politics, the problems they face and living conditions in Bukavu over a drink.
Objective : Opening a non-mixed forum for men to talk and listen to each other, to raise awareness of masculinities. This space is a place of trust where men can talk freely about the problems they encounter on a daily basis as men around masculinities.
Modalities - what are the basic principles of these circles ?
– Non-mixed meeting, including the facilitator, in a café-restaurant in Bukavu (outside the APEF premises) ;
– Establish a climate of trust, listening and sharing ;
– A sweet (soda) is offered by APEF ;
– There is no longer a trainer but a facilitator. The role of the facilitator is to accompany the men in a discussion ;
– There are no longer 4 training sessions, but 3 discussion sessions on the problems that men encounter in their daily lives, focusing on positive masculinity ;
After the training, APEF follows up with the men’s households.
