The theme of International Men’s Day (IMD) activities in the Cayman Islands this year is “Keeping Men and Boys Safe”.

While International Men’s Day is November 19, the local IMD Coordination Committee has planned more than a week of public education and awareness-building activities to highlight the importance of its chosen theme for the entire community.

Family Resource Centre (FRC) Coordinator Miriam Foster, who heads the committee, called the decision to focus on male safety timely and relevant.

She explains that this year local and international organisers wanted to highlight that while men are traditionally considered protectors and providers, society rarely considers what actions it can take to provide for and protect men and boys.

Accordingly local events will focus on a number of objectives, including: 1.tackling male suicide; 2. keeping boys safe to become tomorrow’s role models; 3. tackling the tolerance of violence against men and boys; 4. boosting men’s life expectancy by keeping men and boys safe from avoidable illness and death; 5. and promoting fathers and male role models.

“Parenting Plus” segments based on this year’s theme will air on Cayman 27s Daybreak show on 7 & 21 November.

A family skills session on raising boys is set for 13 November at the FRC located in Windjammer Building, Walkers Road. This workshop will allow participants to discuss how to raise boys safely and address aggression issues, as well as individual educational needs.

Meanwhile the Appleby International Men’s Day Football Tournament will take place on 16 November at the Camana Bay Sports Complex.

Organisers say that the popular event which has become a fixture of the IMD calendar is successful, because it encourages boys and men to engage in positive male bonding. In particular it addresses the idea of positive male role models engaging in a healthy activity.

Sponsors Appleby have donated a grand prize of CI$1000 for each winning team. Individual team sponsors include: Estella Scott-Roberts Foundation, Island Taste, Hungry Horse, Davenport Development, and the Complaints Commissioner’s Office. Use of the field is being sponsored by Dart.

On 19 November, which is International Men’s Day, a special dinner and film screening will take place at Grand Old House at 6.30pm.  The 20-minute local short film Boys’ Voice: International Men’s Day Celebration of Boyhood will feature interviews with 12 boys about their experiences and challenges.

Grand Old House is providing a discounted meal at $15 per person. Ben Hudson of Beneficial TV is producing the film. The rock band Inverse and the Savannah United Church Boys Choir will perform.

Thousand Man March organiser – Phil Jackson will also present the boys that participated in the film with a book about building character.

Earlier that day an International Men’s Day roundtable on Radio Cayman’s Talk For more information, contact the FRC at 949-0006.

Photos:  Photos by GIS

Youth participants of the 2012 International Men’s Day Football Tournament.

Adult male participants of the 2012 Estella-Scott Roberts Foundation football team.

For the official Cayman Islands Government web portal, www.gov.ky:

Web title: Safety Focus For Mens’ Day

Web blurb:  Organisers will promote actions by which society can provide for and protect men and boys.