In a ground-breaking commemoration of the International Day for the Boychild on May 16, 2025, Youth Alive! Kenya, in partnership with Oxfam Kenya and the African Boychild Network, spearheaded a transformative event at Maisha Poa Centre. This year, the focus shifted from traditional reflections on boys’ well-being to a bold challenge against one of society’s most persistent gender norms: the notion that care work is exclusively for women. The day was reimagined as a living classroom, immersing boys and men in the tangible realities of unpaid care and domestic work (UCDW).

The day unfolded through a series of immersive group activities designed to provide first-hand experience of daily care responsibilities. Participants engaged in tasks such as shopping with a limited budget, preparing ingredients, cooking using firewood, washing utensils, and serving meals. These practical exercises served as eye-openers, sparking honest and often revealing conversations. The firewood cooking session, in particular, highlighted the critical lack of care-supportive infrastructure, as participants grappled with smoke and inefficiency, underscoring the daily struggles faced by many.

During the subsequent reflection session, many participants openly acknowledged the significant emotional and physical demands of care work. This realization fostered a newfound and profound respect for the women in their lives who typically shoulder these responsibilities.

More than just a learning experience, the event served as a powerful springboard for advocacy. Participants made pledges to share care responsibilities within their own homes and to actively support investments in essential public services such as clean energy, accessible water, and quality childcare. The significant presence of Nairobi City County officials, who expressed keen interest in replicating the model, signaled an important policy shift, bringing more men directly into the gender equality conversation.

By recognizing care work as a shared duty and a critical public issue, the event redefined how the boychild can grow into manhood – rooted not just in leadership, but profoundly in empathy, equity, and tangible action. This initiative marks a significant step towards fostering a generation of men committed to a more balanced and just society.