Bruce’s story: Believing change is possible because of KVIBE
"I had to change to become the best version of myself."
Young men and boys across America need community, support and connection. KVIBE, a Movember-funded program in Kalihi Valley, Hawaii provides a safe space for youth to support one another, as bike mechanics and mentors.
“This community has suffered discrimination, not to mention struggling to find a safe space for their children, because of threat of gang influence and violence. KVIBE’s work with the young men aims to give a sense of stability and hope for the community.
When the parents and guardians learn that their young man is going to continue pursuing college or focus on finding their gifts and passion and KVIBE helped in making that happen, that gives them a sense of hope. When they do not have to worry about their children’s whereabouts after school while they are working, because they know they are at KVIBE, that gives them hope. And when they can directly connect with the KVIBE Team, because relationships are built to check in with their children, that gives them a sense of hope too.
With hope comes a healthier community,” says Rona Mangayayam, Youth Services Director at KKV.
Since partnering with Kōkua Kalihi Valley Comprehensive Family Services (KKV), Movember has seen the Kalihi Valley Instructional Bike Exchange (KVIBE) create lasting transformation for the young men and boys of Hawaii’s Kalihi Valley. Hosted at the bike shop, youth support one another as bike mechanics and mentors, taking part in dialogue about their cultures, individual gifts, passions, and feelings. Through leadership training and multi-generational mentoring, KVIBE is providing life changing opportunities to these young men.
The goal of this program is create a safe space for the young men and boys of Kalihi Valley. A place to think of as home when they might need it, where they can see the best in themselves and others and explore leadership opportunities at KVIBE and beyond.
KVIBE participant-turned mentor, Bruce, first started going to KVIBE to be with his friends, work on bikes and go riding around Kalihi. What he found, was a sense of purpose.
KVIBE strives to bring transformation to these young men, and to make them feel accepted and loved no matter what’s going on in their lives.
“I do believe in change,” Bruce shares, “Change is one of the things that I went through. I didn’t want to change, because I was just living life, it wasn’t perfect, but it was familiar. But, I had to change to become the best version of myself. I had to change the friends that I was rolling with. I couldn’t stay with those guys if I wanted to help my community.
That’s my hope for these young ones. Change. It’s important to give opportunities to these young boys, because I feel the more we give them these opportunities, the more they’ll continue to get.”
Learn more about Movember’s mental health programming for boys and young men.
