The Power of Dad

Girls in Bangladesh are notoriously married young - 59% of girls in Bangladesh are married before their 18th birthday and 22% are married before the age of 15. It takes strong fathers to stand up to this cultural norm and say "no" to protect their daughters from the violence of early marriage, ensure they get to go to school, and let them grow up in their own time.

Fathers in Latin America are challenging the traditional "machismo" culture, supporting their wives to earn an income and taking a gentler role with their children.

Quality time with dad is critical to children's happiness and long-term wellbeing. When a father's focus is the daily survival of his family, it takes courage and sacrifice for him to create those quality moments that make his children feel seen and safe.

The Khmer Rouge regime in Cambodia left a legacy of violence. Today, one in two children in Cambodia has experienced severe beating, one in four has suffered from emotional abuse, and one in 20 has been sexually assaulted. Many children are trafficked, forced to work, or separated from their families. Fathers in FH partner communities are learning non-violent ways to respond to their wives and children, and are being welcomed into the freedom of a fatherly role that is marked by love, provision, and gentleness.

Refugee children are incredibly vulnerable. They lack adequate shelter, supervision, education, and protection from exploitation. They need fathers to watch over them.

The Responsible, Engaged and Loving (REAL) Fathers initiative in Northern Uganda is helping young and first-time fathers learn new ways of interacting with their children so they can build strong, healthy families like this one. 

Sometimes, you just need Dad to hold you.