The Ministry of Human Services and Social Security (MHSSS) on Tuesday commissioned its first BRAVE Centre at the West Central Mall, Leonora, West Coast Demerara, as part of a national plan to create safe spaces and provide support for men.
The Build your legacy, Reclaim manhood, Activate goals, Visualise success, and Execute fearlessly (BRAVE) initiative aims to empower men and boys, promote emotional well-being, and involve them in efforts to curb gender-based violence (GBV).
The ceremony included the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the ministry and the Region Three Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Minister of Human Services and Social Security Vindhya Persaud called the day historic, saying the centre was the final piece needed to bridge the gap between domestic violence and the emotional well-being of men.
She said the ministry, since 2020, had been working to address various forms of violence, including domestic, gender-based and family violence.
“People deal with their emotions and seek to address conflict many times with violence, and the ministry has taken on the task to try and combat and curb violence,” Persaud said.
She added that violence could not be solved on paper alone, but required “consistency, commitment, vision and a structure,” while ensuring everyone understood they were part of the solution.
Persaud said the BRAVE Centre, designed to serve a dual purpose, was created out of care and compassion to make a meaningful impact.
“Bridging the gap means building the bridge,” she said, noting that the initiative was not intended to stereotype or label men but to help them redefine themselves.
Bhabita Albert, president of the Region Three Chamber of Commerce and Industry and managing director of the West Central Mall, said both entities were committed to the project.
“In today’s society, a man’s basic goals are to be nurturing husbands, fathers, breadwinners, protectors of the family, leaders and contributors to the growth of the economy,” she said.
Albert said that achieving those goals depended on positive mental health and that society, communities and government agencies were investing heavily in men.
She noted the BRAVE Centre would offer a judgment-free environment where men could express emotions, gain perspective and develop coping strategies.
She added that counselling could improve men’s mental, emotional and physical health.
The BRAVE Men’s Policy – Bridging the Gap – aims to involve men and boys in preventing GBV, promoting healing and ensuring accountability. The new national framework seeks to redefine traditional gender norms and promote a more positive vision of manhood.
It also aims to shift perceptions of men from being seen solely as perpetrators to being recognised as agents of change.
The BRAVE Men’s Policy was launched on June 21, 2025. (DPI)
A section of the gathering at the launch (DPI photo)
