Fokupers continued the 17th Final Session of the “Father of Change”. Photo:FokupersLens. Date:17/9/2026
Namolesso, 17 September 2026 — Fokupers continued the 17th Final Session of the “Father of Change” Program with 15 couples in Namolesso Village, Lequidoe Administrative Post, Aileu Municipality.
This session provided a space for participants to reflect on their journey during the group session, share experiences of change, and celebrate positive steps taken in family life, couple relationships, and parenting.
Through this program, fathers and mothers are encouraged to build respectful relationships, share household responsibilities, and create equal and violence-free families.
In this final session, participants participated in three main activities designed to strengthen positive change and continuity of learning within families.
The Celebration of Change activity provided an opportunity for participants to share their experiences, express the benefits of the program, and reflect on the changes they experienced in their relationships with their partners and families.
Participant Sr. Jorge, shares the changes he experienced after participating in the Fathers for Change Program:
“Before I participated in the Father for Change Program, I was a violent person and often got into trouble, but after participating in this program, I learned to control my emotions and thoughts before making decisions, I have distanced myself from people who abandoned me, my wife, and my family.”
Jorge’s experience shows the importance of learning about emotional control, self-reflection, and more responsible decision-making in family life.
Meanwhile, Ms. Sofia, Jorge’s partner, also shared the changes she’s seen in their relationship:
“Previously, my partner was very reluctant to help with household chores, but after participating in the Father for Change Program, I saw a change in him, now he has started to help and support me with household chores, this makes me feel that responsibilities at home can be shared and we can support each other as a couple.”
This testimony illustrates the importance of sharing household responsibilities and mutual support between partners to build a harmonious family.
Mrs. Olandia also shared her experience of changes in her family:
“Before I joined this program, my partner always listened more to my mother-in-law, especially about sharing household responsibilities. But after he participated in the training, I saw a big change. He started helping and accepting household responsibilities. This change made me feel like he understood that family responsibilities should be shared between partners”.
Participants’ experiences demonstrate how dialogue, learning, and engagement can create space for change in family relationships and the sharing of responsibilities.
In addition, Fokupers also provided playful learning activities with children to give parents space to actively participate. Fifteen children actively participated, learning the values of equality, mutual respect, and living without violence from an early age.
The 17th and Final Session was facilitated by Mrs. Lucia Fátima da Silva and Mr. Silveiro da Silva de Araújo, who helped participants in the process of reflection, learning, and strengthening family commitment.
The “Father of Change” program is funded by Misereor, with technical support from The Asia Foundation-Nabilan and NGO HAMNASA.
Change starts with small steps, learning to control emotions, helping the partner, listening to each other, and being present in the children’s lives.
When parents work together to build an equal family, children have the opportunity to grow up in a safer, loving, and violence-free environment.
