ABSTRACT
PIP: In July 1993, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) in Nicaragua expanded their community development work on domestic violence to include a "Group of Men Against Violence" (GMAV). GMAV began by focusing on self-education and expanded to include a movement of male farmers, the Network of Rural Promoters, that encourages men to engage in recreational activities with their children and to help develop family vegetable gardens. GMAV has spread through Nicaragua, and the men support seven youth groups. One NGO, CANTERA, offers a systematic course involving three workshops on masculine identities; gender, power, and violence; and unlearning machismo as well as follow-up workshops on masculinity, sexuality, and communication skills. Another NGO, CISAS, expands the CANTERA courses to include more specific topics and offers a training-of-trainers course to the Army Health Department staff. CISAS supports men's groups that meet weekly to discuss various topics both within and among various communities. CISAS also sponsors national-level meetings, including one with women's groups. The GMAV is currently seeking outside funding to respond to requests for support and training, including a request from the police department for gender sensitivity training. During an evaluation of CANTERA's courses conducted in 1997, many men reported that the workshops resulted in positive transformations in their own lives. CANTERA is now developing a training manual for NGOs interested in working with men.^ieng
