The Coexist Initiative is a Kenyan NGO working to promote gender transformation, human rights and social justice. Registered in 2005, Coexist has quickly established itself as a pioneer in promoting gender transformation, and advancing human rights by targeting men and boys as its key cluster.

Approach

They work with men, boys and communities by focusing on addressing attitudes that generate traditions of terror and encourage the use of violence as enshrined in patriarchy, negative masculinity and the entire negative socialization processes. They reverse the trend by targeting the men and boys and working with them to change negative attitudes, practices and beliefs that put women and girls at even greater risk and vulnerability. Their strength has been their fostering of active and meaningful involvement of the program beneficiaries.

Their approach and strategies have had the efficacy for escalating community receptivity to their programs   by lessening resistance and for increasing the likelihood of community members taking an active role in the thematic focus area.

Vision

A world in which men and women, rich and poor, sick and healthy, urban and rural, are equal partners in the decision-making process and in creating sustainable development aimed at bettering the quality of life

Mission

To improve the quality of life of vulnerable groups (minorities, women, girls, youth, slum dwellers and displaced populations)