Region Three centre for empowerment of men, boys inaugurated

Some of those who were at the ceremony yesterday (Ministry of Human Services and Social Security photo) 



On July 22nd, the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security inaugurated the Youth and Men’s Empowerment Centre, known as BRAVE Care, at West Central Mall in Leonora, Region three. This initiative seeks to address foundational causes of violence, harmful masculine stereotypes and intergenerational trauma by engaging boys and men in a transformative process centered on accountability and personal development.

The BRAVE acronym captures the foundational values of the centre:

·       Boldness: Encourage boys and men to pursue emotional growth.

·       Responsibility: Empathizing the need to take ownership of one’s actions, both socially and personally.

·       Accountability: Promoting honest self-reflection and the willingness to acknowledge past behaviours.

·       Vulnerability: Redefining masculinity to include emotional expression and the act of seeking support.

·       Empowerment: Providing resources and guidance to help men become healthier role models.

Minister of Human Services and Social Security Dr. Vindhya Persaud as she formally launched the BRAVE Centre at Leonora on Tuesday (MHSSS photos. 

TT The center offers a collection of services including, counselling, conflicts resolution, mentorship, and emotional support within a stigma-free environment. These interventions are designed to disrupt cycles of gender-based violence and embedded cultural norms that perpetuate male dominance, as well as to address the scarcity of positive role models.

BRAVE Care represents a collaborative effort between the Ministry and a range of stakeholders, including the Region three Chambers of Commerce and Industry. The centre received operational support, such as a waiver of rental fees for one year, via a memorandum of understanding, demonstrating robust community backing and cross-sectoral partnership.

A core message of BRAVE initiative is the imperative for men to assume responsibility for their actions, critically engage with cultural patterns, and actively contribute to the prevention of gender-sensitive youth empowerment and male accountability.

Looking beyond Region three, the Ministry aims to replicate the BRAVE model throughout Guyana, establishing a network of youth friendly hubs staffed with trained facilitators, counsellors and integrated policy reforms. The BRAVE initiative aspires to foster generational change by engaging dialogue around masculinity and empowering youth to become agents of transformation. BRAVE CARE is not merely a centre, but a catalyst for social healing and progressive change in the development of Guyana’s youth and men. 

BRAVE is more than a name—it’s a declaration. Boldness. Responsibility. Accountability. Vulnerability. Empowerment. At North Ruimveldt Youth Reflection, we support these values whole-heartedly, but we also know that values must be backed by action.

The Ministry’s launch of BRAVE Care gives us hope for emotional growth, cultural healing, and change in how boys and men are supported. But hope without commitment becomes performance. Let this not be a moment of tokenism. We urge the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security to uphold its BRAVE promise through sustained action—beyond Region Three. The roots of domestic violence and harmful gender norms are deep and complex. BRAVE Care must address these not just with counselling and mentorship, but with trained facilitators, youth-inclusive programming, and community accountability.

We expect:

  • Transparent reporting and outcome tracking.
  • Opportunities for youth voices in the design and evolution of services.
  • Ongoing collaboration across sectors, especially within education and health.
As youth leaders and community thinkers, we commit to engaging, supporting, and holding space for transformation. But we also commit to holding institutions accountable. BRAVE must be more than branding—it must be backbone

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