The Department of Equity, Social Justice, Gender and Older Persons has officially launched its national “Fathers Who Care” Campaign, an initiative aimed at promoting responsible fatherhood, strengthening family relationships and encouraging men to help raise the citizens, families and leaders of tomorrow.

Launched under the theme “Men Raising the Next Generation,” the campaign brings together government agencies, community organizations, faith-based groups and development partners in a collective effort to support fathers and male role models across Saint Lucia.

Speaking at the launch, Director of Men of Faith Ministries and development partner, Andrad Felix, said the campaign responds to a growing need among men and families across the island.

Over the past six months, our organization has been actively engaging men and boys through various programmes and initiatives. This work has exposed us first hand to the challenges facing men and families in Saint Lucia. Through our Man Power Project, we have encountered men who possess a genuine desire to become better fathers, better partners and better leaders, but who often lack the support, guidance and opportunities necessary for growth and development. That is why we think this partnership is so important to us. Our collaboration on this campaign is built upon a shared truth that the family is the bedrock of our society and that by divine design men have a significant responsibility to their families and by extension our society.

The initiative seeks to create opportunities for men to access mentorship, guidance and personal development support, while promoting positive masculinity, shared responsibility and stronger family bonds.

Representing the International Men’s Network, Barry Innocent welcomed the collaboration between Government and faith-based organizations, describing it as a necessary partnership in addressing the challenges affecting men and families. He encouraged men to take greater responsibility for their health and well-being and appealed to young men to reject violence and embrace positive alternatives. that would strengthen families and communities.

“And those young men are involved in crime, I want to appeal to you, please, please stop it. Every time time you take a life you are breaking a family, every time you take down a young man you breaking some young little girl or boy’s heart because now they are without a daddy and its causing the problem of absenteeism of fathers the continue and so I want to encourage us to stop the violence, let’s try for peaceful negotiations instead, let’s try a different method other than just taking each other out,” noted Innocent. 

Featured speaker, retired Sir Arthur Lewis Community College lecturer, Hilary Charlamagne, challenged fathers and father figures to embrace their role in shaping the values, character and future success of their children, while emphasizing the lasting impact of positive fatherhood on families and communities.

 “I believe lieve that the dysfunctionality that we are experiencing today, that manifests itself in so many different ways, has everything to do with the man. Don’t blame it on the government, yes the government has their role to play, but the dysfunctionality we are experiencing in our system today has everything to do with the man. I say that not as condemnation of the man, but to challenge the man to shift. 

Charlemagne went on, “Men must go back to a place where they understand that we could recreate beauty, we could restructure and reshape the landscape, we could capture again the imagination of our children and make them want to live. Men must get back to the place where they could be the inspiration, first off to their wives, so that when their wives look at them their wives are totally awed, not because of how they look but because of who they are.”

Delivering the National Message to Fathers, Minister with responsibility for Gender, Hon. Emma Hippolyte, described the campaign as a response to a growing national concern, affecting families and communities across Saint Lucia.

“We must restart the clock, we believe that fathers who care are the cornerstone of strong families and thriving communities. When men step up into the role of nurturers, they do more than provide, they inspire, guide and model resilience for the next generation. Their presence teaches children the value of compassion, responsibility and perseverance. In a world that often emphasizes toughness, caring fathers show that true strength lies in empathy and love. They remind us that naturing is not bound by gender but my commitment to raising children who feel secured, valued and empowered to reach their fullest potential.”

Minister Hippolyte noted that while the stories of many responsible and hardworking men often go untold, Saint Lucia must confront the challenges facing its boys and men and commit to meaningful action that strengthens families and communities.

Through a series of activities and outreach programmes, the Fathers Who Care Campaign will encourage men to become active participants in the lives of their children, while promoting stronger families, healthier communities and a brighter future for the nation.m