Global Members’ Assembly Reflections from Youth Reference Group Members

The Global Members’ Assembly is an annual event that brings together members of MenEngage Alliance from networks around the world to exchange knowledge and discuss collective strategies towards advancing gender equality. 

This year’s Members’ Assembly, which took place online from 17 – 19 June 2025, focused on the agenda ​‘strengthening collaborations across the Alliance amid backlash to gender equality.’ Young members played active roles in planning for the Assembly in various capacities, and youth engagement and leadership emerged as key discussion points during the event.

Below, Youth Reference Group members share their reflections and key takeaways from the event, starting with an opening reflection from Nyasha Phanisa Sithole, our Program Officer and Youth Reference Group Coordinator.

Nyasha Phanisa Sithole, MenEngage Alliance Program Officer and Youth Reference Group Coordinator 

The 2025 MenEngage Alliance Members’ Assembly was a space for solidarity, relationship building and strategising. This year’s Members Assembly was also a space for demonstrating transformative youth leadership approaches to meaningful engagement and participation of young people. Both as participants and as part of the Members Assembly planning committee, the young people provided their leadership, experiences and expertise in shaping the Assembly. 

Irene Ogeta, At-large Global Board Member (ATHENA Network)

The 2025 MenEngage Members’ Assembly was a powerful and affirming space. Though I was not a part of the planning committee, I felt fully included through the process, especially through the youth sessions. Space was created to have real conversation, intergenerational conversations, and genuine reflection regarding power, accountability, and movement building. As a young feminist, I appreciated that the Assembly did not tokenize youth voices whatsoever — our perspectives and experiences were in the spotlight without a doubt.

One of the biggest takeaways for me was the need to intentionally invest in developing the youth and masculinities movement via intergenerational solidarity and collective leadership. Clearly, young people aren’t just ​“the future” — we’re already doing cutting-edge work. But without investment, mentorship, and space to lead on our own terms (not just to be ​“brought along”), the movement can’t grow durably. The Assembly confirmed that if we are to transform harmful norms regarding masculinities, young people — especially queer, trans, and feminist youth voices — need to be placed at the forefront of strategy and action.

Alex Nelson, North America MenEngage Network (NAMEN) member & Co-Chair of the Youth Reference Group

As part of the planning team, I formulated themes and discussion topics that would align with the intentions behind the Assembly and moderated part of a session. The process led me to realize the importance of asking participants questions that are focused yet relatable across various global contexts.

Our role as youth is to transform ideas into action. As we identified ways to reshape narratives about masculinity in the face of backlash, the need to utilize a variety of platforms to do so became clear. Digital fluency and influencers, for example, are vital for bridging this gap between theory and praxis. Young people, born in the digital age, should lead these efforts. 

Shalinee Bahadur, Caribbean Male Action Network (CariMAN) Administrator and CariMAN’s representative in the Youth Reference Group Member

Being part of the Planning Committee not only allowed me to understand what it takes to organize a large-scale global event but gave me a great sense of fulfillment to use my knowledge and experience to help co-create the agenda and direction of the event. 

I also volunteered to represent the Communications Working Group at the Assembly to share how collaboration happens within the Working Group and amongst other Working Groups of the Alliance. 

By providing young people with meaningful platforms to contribute in tangible ways, from planning to participation, we contribute to building a sustainable movement that can impact and influence future generations

Nicolas Londoño Bernal, MenEngage Latin America’s representative in the Youth Reference Group member 

I was a participant in the MenEngage Members’ Assembly. I found a team full of shared situations and common interests, capable of working together towards shared goals. Having joint spaces can give us a global perspective on the local issues we are facing, and this can help us identify the common aspects among them.

Young people are occupying spaces and using their voices to contribute to giving the alliance greater relevance in addressing the inequalities reproduced in different countries. Their presence also encourages more creative thinking around building will and connections among diverse initiatives to confront the global rising backlash against gender equality. As an alliance, continuing to promote youth participation is essential for enabling members to organize responses and drive cultural change on a global scale.