This Father’s Day Compassion is urging support for men who fight against local culture and tradition to be the hands-on dads they long to be.

In many parts of the world being a ‘hands-on’ dad is frowned upon. Child care is considered the sole responsibility of the woman. Compassion believes this is denying many children the opportunity to have a true relationship with their father and is detrimental to their development.

According to UNICEF, research shows that children perform better academically, have fewer discipline problems, and become more responsible adults when both their mothers and fathers are actively involved in their learning and development.

Compassion child development centres are working through local churches to involve both parents in the development of the child. There is a specific focus on encouraging men to take a more active role in their child’s life.

Across the world there are waves of fathers who are rising up against the chains of culture that prevent them from being the kind of dads they long to be. 20-year-old Allus Yikwa is just one example.

He’s part of the Wamena tribe in Western New Guinea where gender lines are as strongly drawn. When Allus lost his wife, the pressure within his community to give his son, Yalimur, away was fierce.

He faced a lifetime of rejection and shame, but still he stood firm. “I do not want to give Yalinur to someone else, including my relatives or wife’s relatives,” he says with resolution. “I should take the responsibility of taking care of him. I cook, wash, plant, and take care of Yalinur by myself. I have lost my wife. I do not want to lose my son.”

Thankfully, through the Compassion project, Allus found staff to help him learn how to take care of his son and become the father he longed to be. Life is not easy, but Allus no longer has to walk it alone.