The power of information

Etogo Benjamin is a resident of Openzinzi central village in Adropi, happily married with one boy child and role model man selected by the community. Growing up in a typical African setting he is not different from any other African man who grew up knowing women are supposed to do all domestic work. “I used to know that house hold chore is the role of women and it can never be a man’s role.” As told and trained by his grandfather a man’s role at home was to dig, graze animals, make granary and carry out supervisory roles at home to ensure all the daily tasks are performed.

He is one of the many people who participated in one of CASCADE awareness sessions at the Parish center in the month of September by Sub-county by Community Development officer (CDO) where discussions of shared responsibilities between men and women took place. “From the time I attended a meeting at the parish center, I started to realize that it is true women spend a lot of time doing domestic which wears them so fast.” Benjamin narrates. It should be noted that Benjamin like another man has been living with the rigid beliefs of the traditional African men though he has been helping the help was not intentional. He is also among the role model men selected to and trained under the CASACDE Project from his Parish and after the training this is what he had to say;

I attended the training for the engagement men and boys, we leant about the 24hr calendar and work schedule I realize that the work I very little to help contribute to family income. I actually do 3 activities per day (grazing, digging, and making granary) and leave all the house hold chore work to my wife.” From that time of the training, I started supporting my wife in some work like; bath children, and sometimes I cook and other things that I used to think were feminist work and as of now my family is happier as the family shares the whole work in the home. My wife feels more relieved and we live much better than we used to as she feels the house hold responsibilities are now shared. This has even giving her time to start doing some business of making breads and selling to the nearby primary school because she is now sure if she is not at home I will manage to support.” With a smile in his face he waves to us as we depart from his home.