The International Day of the Boy-child (IDBC)
The recognition and commemoration of the International Day of the Boy-child, also called the International Boys Day, started in 2018, less than a decade ago, and after a series of efforts by Dr.Jerome Teelucksingh from Trinidad and Tobago.
The fact that the recognition of a day like this has just recently seen the light of fruition is proof that a lot still needs to be done as regards boy-child upbringing and making boys feel seen, valued, and loved in society.
While it is through that men have historically been the biggest beneficiaries of the operations of our society, there is no denying that the boy-child is a child, with needs for love, care, and an expression of value. The lack of a day to celebrate boys for decades did not communicate boys’ importance as much as one would expect it to be communicated.
At Boys Without Borders, we consider the International Day of the Boy-child, celebrated every May 16, as one of our most important duties and have taken it so since our inception in 2020, via a variety of initiatives we continue to improve upon.
Online Awareness and Outreach Efforts
For us, the International Boys Day is an avenue to spark discourses and create awareness about the needs of the boy-child and the importance of society playing an active role in the boy-child upbringing process.
We do this via online awareness campaigns, offline outreach efforts, visitation to schools, and visitation to communities.
The Ibadan Boys Conference
Starting in 2024, we kickstarted the Ibadan Boys Conference to commemorate the International Day of the Boy-child. Like the first edition, the conference will seek to regroup secondary school boys across several schools, their teachers, and young male adults in an enlightening and educative conference.
The Ibadan Boys Conference is an improved version of the symposiums we have organized since 2020 in commemoration of the International Day of the Boy-child.
In 2024, over 150 boys attended the Ibadan Boys Conference from 7 schools, and the event attracted the benevolence of the public, sponsorships from major brands like Cormart, Arla, Nigeria Breweries Plc., and Writinova.
The Chidera Anushiem Annual Essay Contest
Launched in 2024, the Chidera Anushiem Annual Essay Contest is an initiative of Boys Without Borders in commemoration of the International Day of the Boy-child. Like the first edition, this will be an annual essay contest for male undergraduate students across higher institutions in Nigeria. The contest is made possible by the benevolence of Mr. Chidera Anushiem, whom it is named after.
The Richard Ogunjimi Annual Oratory Contest
Launched in 2024, the Richard Ogunjimi Annual Oratory Contest is an initiative of Boys Without Borders in commemoration of the International Day of the Boy-child. Like the first edition, this will be an annual oratory contest for boys in secondary schools, allowing them to participate actively and contribute to the discussions on boy-child-related issues in our society.. The contest is made possible by the benevolence of Mr. Richard Ogunjimi, whom it is named after.
There are several ways you can also contribute to the commemoration of the International Day of the Boy-child. We are available for sponsorships, partnerships, and collaborations.
Together, let’s show boys they have a valued place in our society.
