I’m deeply honored to have been selected as a Global Changemaker and to be joining an inspiring group of leaders in Rio. A very special week begins on Wednesday — a rare opportunity to step away from the pace of everyday work and enter a space for deep conversations, with presence, and purpose. I’m proud to be part of the MenCare Changemaker Journey, led by Equimundo: Center for Masculinities and Social Justice (Center for Masculinities and Social Justice) and WOW - Women of the World.
Alongside 100 leaders from over 40 countries, I will be participating in the first MenCare Global Changemaker Summit in Rio, contributing to the Men and Care Policies action track to help advance policies on caring, connected masculinities and gender equality. We will also work together across a range of critical action areas, including caring online spaces, men’s health and health for all, caring masculinities in workplaces, cities and regions, democracy and tech-enabled harms, boys and education, and the power of story.
I’m looking forward to being in a room (and many rooms) with diverse and visionary leaders who I know, and many who I don’t, but that are pushing boundaries, and trying to do things differently.
This gathering is part of a global effort to build solutions, shift norms, and contribute to a more caring, inclusive and democratic world where everyone can thrive. I’m joining the Summit because I believe we urgently need to change the conversation around men, masculinity and care. Too often, narrow expectations limit how men and boys can see and express themselves, with real consequences for individuals and communities.
From shifting social norms #Motherload Project (Ameeta Jaga) and other initiatives at Scaling Care Innovations in Africa, and Latin America with GRADE Grupo de Análisis para el Desarrollo Care Fund and Global Alliance for Care / Alianza Global por los Cuidados, through my work International Development Research Centre (IDRC), I’ve seen how powerful it can be when norms shift and allyship is built to redress the social division of care work.
And as I head into this week, I’m carrying a question with me — one I’d love to hear others reflect on too:
What would care policies look like if they are designed to shift harmful norms, while nurturing masculinities grounded in connection, dignity, and belonging? And what would it take to build real allyship to resource and sustain gender-equitable, comprehensive care systems?
As part of the Summit, I’ll also be attending the Boys & Men Festival in Rio on May 29, an open event highlighting the transformative power of culture and the arts. Free tickets are available at https://lnkd.in/dpq2wqU4.
A beautiful opportunity to celebrate change!
Find out more: changemakers.equimundo.org
I am grateful to Equimundo and Wow for making this possible.
#GlobalChangemakers #MenCare #GenderEquality #Masculinities #CareEconomy #SocialChange #Leadership #Rio2026
