“Dare to Care” programme: In the villages of Fayoum, a story of change promotes shared responsibility within families

In the heart of Fayoum Government, joint efforts are implemented throughout “Dare to Care” programme, which aims to promote gender equality by encouraging men to take more active role in caregiving and household responsibilities.

The programme is designed based on the belief that gender equality cannot be achieved without the engagement and support of men as key partners in community development. Through community sessions in villages and rural areas, the programme provides men and women with spaces to reflect on tranditional gender roles within the family, promoting shared responsibility and challenging negative stereotypes.

Community facilitators were selected from various villages in Itsa district in Fayoum, with each facilitator serving as key link between the programme and the participating families. Their role includes maintaining direct and ongoing contact with families to share the objectives of “Dare to Care” programme. Facilitators received a three‑day training on a model for engaging men and boys in unpaid care work and household responsibilities. The training familiarized them with the programme’s approach, provided essential knowledge, and strengthened their skills in communicating messages and facilitating dialogue within communities.

In May 2025, Abdel Moneim Mohamed learned about “Dare to Care” programme through a Facebook post by Gozour Foundation for Development. He was immediately interested in the idea, as he had always believed in the importance of care work for society. Abdel Moneim was also a supporter of “Because I Am a Man” campaign, launched by the National Council for Women and UN Women. For him, joining the programme was a continuation of his personal [development] journey and a reflection of his deep conviction that equality in responsibilities is not a favor, but a shared commitment between two partners who complement each other.

Abdel Moneim works alongside a team of men and women facilitators to conduct awareness sessions in the villages, where families are selected according to specific criteria to ensure the participation of both partners in the discussion. The sessions emphasizes practical interaction, asking couples to track two days of their weekly activities to monitor how household tasks are distrubuted. Over time, notable transformations began to emerge, as husbands became more aware of the importance of cooperation and shared responsibility within the home.

Last August, Abdel Moneim witnessed a moment that reflected the change which the programme seeks to create. One participant traveled for four days, and when completing his weekly form, he shared that upon retruning, he made effort to compensate for the household tasks he missed, ranging from cooking and tidying to supporting his family with daily chores. “That simple step was a clear sign that awareness was beginning to turn into real practice,” explained Abdel Moneim.

After four months of field implementation, signs of change started to appear in several villages in Fayoum. Monitoring revealed that some families have developed a deeper understanding of shared household responsibilities, and that men started to recognize the value of contributing to carework—not as an additional burden, but as an expression for appreciation for their partners. At the same time, women reported feeling more supported as the gradual behavioural shifts took place. The “Dare to Care” experience has proven that social transformation does not happen overnight; it is a cumulative process.

The programme’s facilitators team includes both men and women to ensure that families members, both husbands and wives, are fully engaged.

Yasmine Mostafa, from Fayoum Governorate, learned about the “Dare to Care” programme through social media via the Gozour Foundation’s page. When she saw the call for community facilitators, she felt that the programme is closely aligned with her beliefs. Yasmine strongly believes in the importance of fostering meaningful community dialogue to address misconceptions and challenge harmful social norms related to gender roles.

After joining the programme team, Yasmine encoutered significant challenges during her visits to rural communities in Fayoum. Some residents initially believed the programme intended to change their personal beliefs or invade their privacy. These concerns increased with the introduction of the daily activity log, which asks the couple to record their activities to assess how household tasks are shared. At first, some participants were initially uncomfortable with the idea, viewing the log as intrusive. However, through consistent engagement and clear explanations, couples understood that the goal was to strengthen communication within the family, rather than monitor or criticize them.

“Over time, the atmosphere during the sessions shifted,” Yasmine shared. “Both men and women began speaking openly about the pressures of daily life and how responsibilities could be shared. Among the tangible examples that demonstrated change through simple yet meaningful behaviour was when one of the participants started refilling the water cooler before leaving for work, while others began voluntarily helping with household chores. After four months of implementing the programme, we observed that men were no longer participating just to help, but out of a genuine belief in shared household responsibilities within the family,” stated Yasmine.

These activities were organized by Gozour Foundation as part of “Dare to Care” programme, implemented by UN Women Egypt in partnership with the National Council for Women, with the generous support from the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida).