Leading with love, not fear: Frank's story

For Frank, caring for his family goes beyond meeting their basic needs. It’s about nurturing a home where love can grow.

He is part of the AHADI project ¹ (Accelerated Hope and Development for Urban Adolescents in Tanzania), which supports adolescent girls, boys, and youth ages 10–24 in Dar es Salaam and Dodoma.

Through AHADI, young people are empowered with tools to thrive, challenging harmful gender norms, strengthening sexual and reproductive health and rights, preventing sexual and gender-based violence, and building supportive peer networks. The project also works with parents, caregivers, health workers, and faith leaders to create safer, more supportive environments for young people.

Becoming a MenCare Champion

One of the key ways AHADI is strengthening families is through its MenCare Champions approach. By engaging men in conversations about:

• Gender equality
• Shared caregiving
• Healthy relationships

These champions are helping shift norms, promote respect, reduce violence, and model positive fatherhood in their communities.

Frank is one of these MenCare Champions

Through the training, he began to see fatherhood differently—not as authority rooted in fear, but as leadership grounded in love, respect, and responsibility. He learned the importance of nurturing parenting, open communication, and creating a safe home free from violence.

“My family is the most important part of my life. I believe children need to see love through actions every day, because words alone are not enough to build a peaceful and happy family,” Frank explains, emotionally, while looking at his home garden.

That transformation is visible in his daily life.

What began as a small garden to provide fresh, nutritious food has become a space where the family connects, working side by side, sharing stories, and growing closer together

His 22-year-old daughter, Maria, has felt that change deeply.

“My father always gives us time and listens to us whenever we have something to share. He teaches us with love, respect, and patience, and that has helped our family stay close and peaceful,” says Maria while working together with her father in the family garden.

Neighbours have noticed it too. They describe Frank as a caring and cooperative father, a role model who is helping redefine what it means to be a man in his community.

“It is rare to see a father giving this much time to his family. Frank shows that a man can lead his family with love and not fear,” says one of his neighbours.

Throughout his daily life, Frank has shown that fatherhood is not only about providing needs, but also about creating a safe and happy environment for the whole family.

He exemplifies how fatherhood can be transformative for families and communities when led with love.

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1. In partnership with Global Affairs Canada, AHADI is implemented by World Vision Canada, World Vision Tanzania and three local rights-based partners— Kiota Women’s Health and Development, Babawatoto, and the Tanzania Home Economics Association.