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UNESCO Supports Launch of “Redefining Manhood” Book and Boys’ Club Manual
The UNESCO Office in Namibia, through the Our Rights, Our Lives, Our Future (O3 Plus) Programme, has proudly partnered with the Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST) to launch the Redefining Manhood book and its complementary Boys’ Club Manual. This timely and transformative initiative aims to promote positive masculinity, mentorship, and gender equality among young men in higher education institutions across the country.
At the heart of this effort is the Boys’ Club Manual, authored by Mr. Andreas Robert. This practical guide serves Life Skills teachers, peer educators, and mentors, helping boys navigate issues of identity, leadership, and emotional well-being. Andreas shared that his motivation for writing the book stemmed from a troubling realization: many boys in Namibian society are growing up without positive male role models.
“I wrote Redefining Manhood because I saw something very disturbing: men are disappearing from leadership spaces, and fatherhood is often absent,” said Robert.
The event was attended by high-level dignitaries, including the NUST Vice Chancellor, Dr. Erold Naomab, and Former Speaker of Parliament, Hon. Prof. Peter Katjavivi, who lent their prestige and strong institutional support to the occasion.
Speaking at the event, Ms. Eunice Smith, Head of the UNESCO Office in Namibia, emphasized the urgency of addressing the growing educational disengagement among boys both in Namibia and globally. She placed the launch within UNESCO’s broader mandate to foster inclusive education and promote gender balance in leadership and development.
According to UNESCO’s 2022 Global Report on Boys’ Disengagement from Education, 132 million boys were out of school in 2020. This figure represents more than half of the total global out-of-school youth population and is a larger number than the 127 million girls who are also not in school, said Smith.
She added that Namibia is experiencing this worrying trend of increased male dropout rates, with many boys disengaging from both secondary and tertiary education. This issue, according to Smith, is well documented in the UNAM Namibian Boys’ Underachievement Report (2023), which highlights that socio-cultural pressures, economic constraints, and a lack of adequate support systems are contributing to this crisis.
Namibia’s commitment to gender equality was underscored by the presence of the First Gentleman, Hon. Lt. Gen (Rtd) Epaphras Ndaitwah. In his remarks, he highlighted the importance of empowering the boy child alongside ongoing efforts to support girls and women. He praised the country’s historic shift in leadership, noting that for the first time, top government positions are held by women. His words served both as a celebration and a call for unity.
“For the last 35 years of our independence, the top positions in the country were male-dominated, if not male-exclusive. That was imbalanced. But today, the top structures of government are women-dominated, and we celebrate this. But we must not just sit down and say it is their turn now. We need to move together,” he said.
Namibia recently made history as the only African country led by a female President, Vice President, and Speaker of Parliament. President Nandi-Ndaitwah, Vice President Lucia Witbooi, and Speaker of the National Assembly Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila now occupy the top three political seats.
Although not present, the Prime Minister, Hon. Dr. Elia Ngurare, delivered a speech through a representative, emphasizing the need to uplift the boy child while continuing to support girls' empowerment.
The boy child too is just a child, who needs love, care, and support, said the Prime Minister.
This reminder underscored the importance of nurturing all children equally, ensuring their well-being and development. The O3 Plus Programme continues to collaborate with UNAM, IUM, and NUST to empower youth through strengthened life skills, health, and education.
