In the heart of Kawuor village, Homabay, John Madawo, had once firmly held onto traditional beliefs that limited his view of gender roles and parenting. John firmly believed that childcare was solely the responsibility of women. He had little interaction with children and mistakenly thought that they should simply follow instructions without further engagement. His perspective took a challenging turn when his own daughter became pregnant while still in school. Faced with his daughter's predicament, John initially responded with misguided actions. Instead of offering support, he withdrew financial assistance for her education and insisted that marriage was the solution. This response strained his relationship with his daughter and grandchild.
Vera Awuor, an Early Childhood Development (ECD) Promoter in Kawuor village, played a crucial role in reshaping John's worldview. Armed with insights and knowledge from “Moments that Matter training”, Vera engaged John in deliberate conversations that transformed his preconceived notions. One revelation that deeply affected him was the understanding that children could connect with their fathers even before birth, a realization that completely changed John's perception of his parenting role. John's impact was profound. His transformation and advocacy sparked community-wide change. Fathers in his neighborhood began investing time in their children's upbringing, leading to healthier family dynamics. His daughter resumed education, supported by John's renewed commitment.