Enriching Men's Lives

It takes an incredible amount of effort and ingenuity to change traditional social norms, but these Changemakers are redefining the meaning of manhood. By creating balance in the home, the workplace, and the community Volker Baisch and Jack Kammer are giving men of all ages a chance to overcome stereotypes, rise above social pressures and experience a fullness of life that cultural gender constraints often does not permit.

Volker Baisch is providing the missing link to help working fathers connect with their families. Corporate culture in German society typically requires men to devote long hours on the job without any flexibility for family. Baisch’s organization Vaeter e.V. (Fathers’ Association) and his corporate program, Dads—Fathers in Balance, create stable relationships between men’s work and home lives by making workplaces more father-friendly. Benefits such as paternity leave and “bring your child to work day” are just a few of the initiatives Baisch lobbies for to make fatherhood an attainable and fulfilling experience for men and their families.

BELIEVE in Men addresses gender equality through the eyes of young men. Inspired by the way the way the feminist movement in the United States addressed the disadvantages and special challenges of being female in a world with set gender expectations, the program aims to do the same for boys and men. By empowering males to confront and challenge stereotypes, the program transforms the way men, women, and policy makers view the male role in relationships and within the community. BELIEVE in Men’s Center for Men and Boys in Social Policy engages all levels of the community in areas such as teen pregnancy, unemployment and domestic violence, providing the tools and insight for boys and men to lead well-rounded, balanced, and healthy lives.