April 2023 was Blue Umbrella month! This year, the Blue Umbrella Day campaign was bigger and more impactful than ever before. As Family for Every Child’s largest annual campaign, Blue Umbrella Day draws attention to the under-discussed but incredibly important and globally prevalent issue of sexual violence affecting boys.
In 2023, the campaign grew significantly. This year, 22 of our member organisations took part, running events, marches, workshops, outreach campaigns, advocacy initiatives and media interviews in 19 countries throughout Africa, the Middle East, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean. On 16 April, and throughout the whole month, thousands of blue umbrellas were raised around the world in an effort to protect boys better. Over 16,000 people took part in face-to-face events, and we reached another 225,000 people online, making it the biggest Blue Umbrella Day to date – and we’re already planning the next one.
In each country, we ran different activities that were tailored to the local context. And there was certainly no lack of creativity from our members! We had expressive arts workshops in Colombia, innovative street theatre in India, media appearances in Guyana and roundtable conferences for professionals in the Philippines. Songs were composed, videos were shared, dances were choreographed and publications were written… all in the name of Blue Umbrella Day. We engaged a wide range of people, from boys themselves, to parents, caregivers, and professionals working with children around the globe. All activities and events promoted one core message: that boys are affected by sexual violence too, and that more needs to be done to protect them.
This year, once again, your donations have made this work and its growing impact possible. Together, we are creating safer environments for boys to grow up in, we’re actively empowering boys and young men to speak up for themselves, and we’re addressing the underlying causes of abuse. Together, we can protect boys better. Thank you for helping us to make Blue Umbrella Day a success once again.
Want to learn more about Blue Umbrella Day 2023? Take a look at our round-up video at blueumbrelladay.org today.
