About the Youth Hack

On 26 February 2026, Restless Development and Youth Collective convened a virtual Youth Hack under “What it means to be a young man today” project funded by the British Council’s Youth Connect programme. The session brought together Positive Masculinity Champions (PMCs) from Madhesh Province in Nepal and Newcastle in the United Kingdom, along with youth leaders, partners, and donors from around the world. A total of 67 participants joined this Youth Hack.

The session focused on a single question: what should positive masculinity look like today.

Participants worked through a structured process that combined shared learning with collaborative problem solving. The aim was to generate clear, practical actions that different stakeholders can take.

Objectives

The Youth Hack had two core objectives:

• Provide the PMCs from Newcastle, England and Madhesh Province, Nepal with a platform to share their ongoing community actions and achievements, highlighting youth-led solutions to harmful masculinities.

• Collaborate with the wider youth movement to co-create key messages and digital actions that challenge traditional norms and promote positive masculinities, to be shared across social and digital platforms on International Women’s Day targeting funders, partners, and young men and boys.

Summary of the hack

The session opened with remarks from Florence Engleback, a consultant for the British Council’s Non-Formal Education Team. She presented the Youth Connect program, emphasizing global partnerships that address gender inequality through the lens of positive masculinity. Following her, Natalie Agboeze, Strategic Partnerships Director at Restless Development, spoke briefly about the organization’s alignment with and commitment to positive masculinity initiatives.

Following the opening remarks, the Positive Masculinity Champions from Nepal – Ankit Chaudhary and Bikash Sah, and the United Kingdom – Vincent Phillips shared their experiences as positive masculinity champions, the impactful works that they’re leading, and approaches to engaging young men.

As a young man from Nepal, I have personally felt that the reason to always appear strong. But working as a champion taught me that vulnerability is not weakness. It is courage.

Bikash, Positive Masculinity Champion (Nepal)

Due to the limited time, we may not bring all the things we hope for immediately. So we have taken this as a campaign. So even after the project ends, our work will continue.

Ankit, Positive Masculinity Champion (Nepal)

We aim to engage with young men through conversation, for expression and for activity.

Vincent, Positive Masculinity Champion (UK)

Participants then moved into breakout groups for a design exercise. Three groups were formed:

• Young people and youth organisations
• Funders and donors
• Decision makers

Each group addressed three questions:

• What should positive masculinity look like
• What should their stakeholder group do
• What is one key message to carry forward

The session closed with feedback from each group and consolidation of key insights.

Key Learnings

Participants converged on a shared understanding of positive masculinity.

Positive masculinity centres on emotional awareness, accountability, and respect. It supports equality and collective wellbeing. It develops through social norms, which means it can be reshaped through deliberate action.

Six themes appeared across all discussions:

• Emotional expression and empathy are essential for young men
• Harmful norms are learned and can be unlearned
• Young people lead change when given space and support
• Community level work drives sustained impact
• Collaboration improves reach and effectiveness
• Positive masculinity strengthens gender equality outcomes

Call to Action

Specific recommendations for each stakeholder group were developed collaboratively by the participants in the breakout rooms.

Recommendations for Young People and Youth Organisations

Participants developed the following key recommendations for young people and youth organizations:

• Practice emotional expression and develop self awareness
• Challenge harmful gender norms in peer groups and online spaces
• Promote equality through everyday actions and relationships
• Take responsibility for personal behaviour and wellbeing

Core message: positive masculinity lifts others and builds shared progress.

Recommendations for Funders and Donors

Participants suggested that funders and donors focus on the following strategic areas:

• Invest in youth led initiatives that engage boys and young men
• Support programmes focused on mental health and identity
• Fund community based models with local ownership
• Encourage partnerships to expand reach and learning

Core message: investment in youth led approaches enables long term change.

Recommendations for Decision Makers

To drive systemic impact, participants recommend that decision makers:

• Integrate positive masculinity into education and youth policy
• Create platforms for dialogue and engagement
• Address harmful norms through public leadership and policy action
• Include young people as partners in decision making processes

Core message: engaging boys and men strengthens gender equality efforts.

Closing

The Youth Hack produced a set of shared messages and actions to be carried forward through campaigns and partnerships.

Positive masculinity operates as an evolving practice shaped by behaviour, relationships, and systems. Young people continue to define and advance this work.

Acknowledgements

With special thanks to the British Council Youth Connect programme for supporting this initiative and amplifying youth-led action on positive masculinity.

Speakers

Florence Engleback: Florence is a consultant on the British Council’s Non-Formal Education Team, delivering programmes to provide young people with the skills-for-life they need to achieve their own aspirations, follow positive pathways and contribute to more inclusive and positive societies.

Natalie Agboeze: Natalie, the Strategic Partnerships Director, has oversight of Restless Development’s Strategy Directorate, bringing together programme delivery, communications, research, advocacy and impact to ensure we deliver our global strategy and supercharge youth-led change for a better world.

Ankit Chaudhary (Positive Masculinity Champion, Nepal): Ankit Chaudhary, a Sociology and Pharmacy student from Sarlahi, Nepal, is a dedicated youth advocate. He promotes gender equality and positive masculinity, engaging men and boys to challenge patriarchal norms and drive social transformation.

Bikash Sah (Positive Masculinity Champion, Nepal): Bikash Sah, a BBS student and youth leader from Janakpurdham, Nepal, advocates for climate action and education. He is dedicated to championing youth-led solutions and inclusive leadership to drive a just and sustainable future.

Vincent Phillips (Positive Masculinity Champion, UK): Vincent Phillips is a Newcastle-based youth advocate focused on youth voice and equality. He uses writing and the arts to drive social change, leveraging his background in philosophy and law to shape more inclusive communities.

Youth Hack Moderator

Daniel Mapatac: Daniel is the Youth Power Coordinator at Restless Development, where he works to embed youth leadership at the heart of decision-making and funding. His role brings together participation, facilitation and strategy to strengthen youth-led change and shift how power is shared.