“Surprisingly, not boring!” is how thirty adolescent boys, ages 15 to 18, from St George’s College in Kingston and Central High School in Clarendon reacted to a series of workshops addressing gender-based violence. 

The sessions were hosted by the Violence Prevention Alliance (VPA) under its ‘Big Man Ting’ campaign. The campaign, which was launched earlier this year as part of the WE-Talk Project, aims to help reduce gender-based violence in Jamaica, particularly violence directed at women, girls, boys, and other vulnerable groups.

Colleen Wint Bond, Project Coordinator at the VPA, explained that the workshops were designed to help young men examine harmful social norms, widely held myths and behaviours that fuel gender-based violence.

“These Big Man Ting workshops focus on increasing awareness among young men. Recognising that interpersonal relationships often trigger violent behaviour, the workshops help guide the young men navigate these relationships through personal development, open dialogue in a respectful, safe environment, avoiding alienation, blame or guilt,” said Wint Bond.

The sessions were facilitated by male mentors who engaged the students in small-group discussions and one-on-one reasoning around expectations of manhood, peer pressure, power dynamics, empathy, and responsible decision-making.

In exploring the importance of healthy relationships, students watched videos or reviewed case studies, followed by lively discussions on topics such as respecting personal boundaries and setting positive examples in their homes, schools, and communities. As part of the programme, each student maintained a reflection journal to track their personal growth and daily observations.

Closing ceremonies were held last week at both schools, where the boys were presented with certificates for their participation.

Principal of St George’s College, Margaret Campbell, praised the initiative and encouraged the boys to embrace their leadership potential. “One of the reasons we dedicate time to you is because we see your greatness,” she said. “You have leadership skills and the potential to positively change this country. I thank the VPA for giving our boys this opportunity to grow and shine.”

At Central High, Guidance Counsellor Shernette Edwards Rowe also remarked that the participants suggested that similar sessions be held for the younger students, and noted that some participants had already been seen engaging their peers.

Jerome Pringle, a Guidance Counsellor at St. George’s College, said the programme offered a fresh and meaningful approach to topics the school already promotes through its guidance curriculum. 

“Gender-based violence and conflict resolution are key parts of our guidance programme,” he said. “This was a fresh, engaging way to present the material, one that really allowed the boys to relate to the content and take it seriously.”

Feedback from students at both schools was very similar. They said the Big Man Ting sessions were not just informative, they were a game-changer. They enjoyed the interactive approach, calling it “eye-opening.” They said that this was the first time they had ever engaged in such intense discussions specifically focused on what it means to be male and how that intersects with gender-based violence.

“The sessions helped us express ourselves,” one student said. “I learned that opinions aren’t always facts, and how to manage conflict by simply walking away.”

The project is funded by the Government of Canada through the Caribbean Regional Development Programme. Speaking at one of the closing ceremonies, Shehryar Sarwar, Head of Cooperation for Jamaica and Belize at the Canadian High Commission, said the programme aligned with Canada’s ongoing commitment to supporting gender equality and community resilience.

“You’ve taken an important step, not just to learn, but to grow into the kind of men our communities need,” Mr Sarwar told the boys. “Positive masculinity is not about toughness or dominance; it’s about standing up for what is right and treating others with dignity.”

Executive Director of the VPA, Deanna Ashley, said. “We’re grateful to both school administrations for embracing this initiative. The response shows there’s a real need for these types of sessions, and we’re looking at ways to incorporate them into ongoing school activities. These young men are key influencers of positive change.” 

Dr Ashley said that the ‘Big Man Ting’ campaign is part of the VPA’s wider strategy to reduce violence through education, positive engagement, and shifting harmful cultural norms, starting with the next generation of men and boys.