Like Joe is a story about a boy who faces various challenges while growing up, and is intended to spark conversation and provide adolescent boys with information and reflections on the choices they encounter. If you are interested in out-of-school sexuality education for young people (ages 10-16), Cordaid can assist you with materials.
This method promotes positive masculinities, encompassing healthy and positive behaviours that can improve the well-being of boys and men, and help build good relationships and strong communities, where we all have equal rights, equal opportunities, and control over our bodies and lives.
The opposite of the term positive masculinities is toxic masculinities. This means male behaviour that harms (young) men themselves, and others, like too much risk-taking or unhealthy or even violent behaviour.
Of course, young men are individuals and don’t behave only in positive or toxic masculinities. However, many boys around the world grow up thinking that they must conform to a particular stereotypical image. For instance, boys are often expected to be tough and to be the ones who bring in money to support their family, or they are always expected to be leaders in all sorts of situations.
As a result, they may not develop different skills, such as managing their emotions, caring for their families in ways beyond being the provider, or forming meaningful relationships. Understanding and applying positive masculinities can help (young) men to reach their full potential, in all its diversity.
Comic book and guidebook
Young men and boys themselves developed the storyline of Like Joe in the DRC, CAR, and Burundi. The boys preferred the format to be a cartoon instead of a booklet.
The guidebook contains instructions for 33 one-hour sessions, mixing storytelling, theatre, sports and games. They engage the boys, allowing them to experience, practice, and reflect on their learning through hands-on experiences.
During and after the sessions, the following is being facilitated and encouraged:
- Formation of positive peer groups on WhatsApp;
- doing fun ‘homework’ using one’s mobile phone;
- follow-up options in closed groups on Facebook;
- promotion of team sports for character development, self-esteem, and overall health.
The comic book and guidebook are available in French and English.