Art: A Powerful Tool for Rethinking Gender and Power Dynamics

4 December 2024

Singing, dancing, poetry, visual arts — through the PRISMA 2 project, art has emerged as a promising lever to end gender-based violence.

Thanks to a partnership with the One Drop Foundation, the innovative Social Art for Behavior Change (SABC) approach has enhanced our efforts to promote gender equality and human rights.

Art forms deeply rooted in Haitian culture—captivating and engaging—have sparked curiosity, opened dialogue, and guided the co-creation of impactful messages. These initiatives have helped deconstruct harmful norms, raise community awareness, and inspire concrete actions toward sustainable behavior change.

Forum theater, songs by influential artists, and mural paintings are among the key tools used. By integrating these artistic activities with Santé Monde’s community mobilization strategies, SABC has generated genuine enthusiasm within communities, creating fertile ground to challenge traditional power dynamics.

A Campaign Driving Change: Men at the Heart of SABC

Men played a key role in raising awareness through a campaign on positive masculinity, titled “Gason Chanje”. Actively involved in child education, sharing domestic responsibilities, and supporting their partners during pregnancy, these allies also educated their peers on issues such as gender-based violence.

Through this mobilization, more than 5,700 men and boys were reached by the campaign, contributing to a collective movement toward a more equitable society.

“Previously, certain macho behaviors seemed normal to me. With this campaign, I experienced a positive emotional breakthrough. Today, there is more dialogue in my relationship. I’ve learned to listen to my wife and discuss important decisions with her instead of imposing my choices. Many men in my community have joined this movement and are spreading these messages to build a new society.”
— Thony Devilus, participant in the Gason Chanje Campaign

The PRISMA 2 project, dedicated to maternal and child health in the Artibonite region of Haiti, concluded in 2023. Carried out with support from the Government of Canada and the One Drop Foundation, the project was implemented in collaboration with Haiti’s Ministry of Public Health and Population.

To this day, men engaged in the Gason Chanje campaign continue their efforts to build communities based on equality and mutual respect. This stands as proof that art, combined with collective mobilization, can be a powerful catalyst for sustainable change.