AboutBrothers is a global not-for-profit organization all about empowering men's friendships. The head office is currently in Oslo, Norway. Our passion is to see men all over the globe discover all what a friendship is, and enjoy it to the full. The organization was founded in 2017. A lot of the work Brothers does is creating an awareness around the topic male bonding, fighting any stigma attached to it, as well as empowering boys and men throughout the world to develop stronger and deeper connections with their mates. We use our sphere of influence to inspire, educate and equip - whether through our social media platforms, website, books, podcasts or events. We do talks, workshops and mentoring on the topic Men's Friendships and related topics, for schools, sports clubs, events, companies and anything in between. Brothers is more than an organization. It's a movement. A movement of boys and girls, men and women, believing in the power of true connection and wholesome friendship. We have a concept called 'become a bro/sister' - and it's a super nice way of supporting our work and being a part of the movement. You can read more about it and become 'a bro' here. Our book has been purchased by people from over 14 nations, our podcasts have been listened to by people from 29 nations, and we have bros and sisters from well over 12 nations.
The Team & Our Friends
How It All BeganIf we as men don’t decide how we want our friendships to look like, someone else will do it for us. [Kim Evensen]
“Brothers” is a global movement that was founded in Norway in 2017, by Kim Evensen. Our headquarter is today located in Oslo, Norway. After discovering the importance of quality friendships in his own life, he was stirred to inspire other men to tap into the great potential in their own friendships. Together, with a group of passionate and resilient individuals, Kim and the rest of the Brothers team have fought for the message of Brothers. They laboured for years, working endlessly and endeavouring wholeheartedly - before Brothers was even founded. Now that Brothers is a reality, we're excited for what's ahead.A friendship is not just a beer at a bar with the boys; it is much more. We believe that all around the world, there are men of all ages desperate for some real bros in their lives. Brothers that inspire them.
The thought first arose in December of 2015.Kim shared a concern to one of his own friends, asking, “Why is it that so many guys are afraid of expressing any vulnerability or affection toward their male friends? It is sad to see men who have been best friends for years hesitate on giving each other a hug when needed, or avoiding any conversation about how they feel. Where do they go for support? Who can they talk openly about life´s challenges with?" Kim knew that he could not just stand by and watch generations of men missing out on close friendship— he absolutely had to do something about it. So he did; and this movement is the result. A movement that will stir men into not settling for mediocre friendships anymore, but rather pursue genuine brotherhood - strong friendship bonds that last. So whoever you are - if you value your brothers then jump on board - and let's create a movement that really champions brotherhood. One that encourages friendships between guys to be wholesome instead of emotionally stunted and empowers men everywhere to see all a brotherhood can be. Here are some thoughts from Kim Evensen, edited out from one of his books. We thought we could add it here: Leading an organization like Brothers has forced me to critically reflect on my own friendships, my own perspectives, and the filters that I view my life through. Having the opportunity to speak into boys’ and men’s lives - and as a result, influence their perspectives on friendship, is a responsibility that I don’t take lightly. The more influence Brothers gets in the lives of people, the more I feel the burden of leadership. I am well aware that I’ve got many flaws, wounds, and more or less distorted perspectives and filters that I view my life and reality through. As the leader of Brothers, I’ve asked myself how much of those things are actually influencing the way I lead, teach, and guide others in developing deep, meaningful bro-connections. I know that we’re all in the same boat, kind of - meaning that we’ve all got filters and perspectives that are shaped by our past, upbringing, and culture and that we’re all flawed. But when one gets a bigger platform and credibility, it’s healthy and necessary to be even more self-reflective, as people will take your advice and knowledge and put it into practice in their own lives. Yes, many times I feel pretty unqualified to run this movement and especially to write this book. Who am I to lead this organization? Who am I to have talks on male bonding in front of hundreds of young high schoolers or talk to and guide professional athletes or grown-up businessmen who’ve got kids and families and much more life experience than me? I’m just an ordinary guy in my late twenties. I’m not perfect and my friendships aren’t perfect or always uncomplicated. But. I’ve realized that perfection is not always the best inspiration. Though I do believe that I’ve got something to offer, and though I’m constantly trying to learn more about the topic of male bonding to gather more knowledge and new perspectives, the most important thing I can do is to do something. True friendship is so powerful and I don’t want guys to miss out on it. Though I’m not a natural strategist, I’d like to say that my strategy when running Brothers, is to let authenticity and vulnerability be the cornerstone of everything that I do. And it can be scary. When meeting with leaders of big organizations, sports clubs, or potential partners, I do wonder sometimes if this authenticity will weaken my credibility or strengthen it. I’m even tempted to put up a facade and a mask to give an impression of “I always know what I’m doing and I never doubt!” But if I did that, I’d be going against everything that Brothers is. I consider myself as a pretty confident young man, but confidence and vulnerability should go hand in hand. I like to say that I rather prefer being a bit less professional and a little bit more personal in my business/partnership meetings. Whether or not that is the best strategy, it is the foundation of who we are. And the foundation of an organization matters more than the appearance. Brothers is not built on a fake or weak foundation. Neither should our friendships be. The more I dive into this theme, the more I realize how necessary and beautiful authentic brotherhood is. And that’s why Brothers aims to be the most influential and trustworthy organization, globally, championing and bringing awareness to the topic of male friendship. Every guy needs good bros in his life, and it fuels me to know that because of Brothers, dudes from across the globe are discovering more of what true friendship is.
Our Mission StatementBrothers is a movement that seeks to empower and inspire boys and men to create strong, wholesome and authentic male friendships, as well as combat damaging cultural influences that can hinder them from doing so.
Our Vision StatementI see a movement that empowers and inspires men to create deep, long-lasting and purpose-filled friendships. A movement that encourages men to invest time and energy into their friendships. I see a movement that equips men all over the world to develop brotherhood built on authenticity and trust. Adventure and integrity. Loyalty and purpose. I see a movement that influences hundreds of millions of men all over the world with its powerful message of brotherhood. A movement that boldly challenges unhelpful mindsets society has imposed on male friendships, masculinity and love, while also providing substitutionary information that redefines what we think men’s friendships, masculinity and love really is about. I see a movement that normalises men's desire for male friendship and equips men to discern, resist and challenge any damaging thought patterns that may hinder them from developing deep connections with other men. I see a movement working closely with people, organisations, media, businesses and educational systems - all around the world, in order to spread its message. A message that we believe will alter male friendships forever. I see a movement being the pioneer and the face of growing male friendships and understanding, and with its platform being a game-changer in men's lives. A movement that through its impact will benefit individuals, friendships, marriages, families and societies alike. A movement that will benefit men in every sphere of life. I see a movement that knows the value and the importance of men having strong, loving friendships in their lives. A movement with a powerful, loud and respected voice, that will be the biggest advocate for men's friendships across the globe.
Our ValuesThe values of our organisation are: PassionWe desire to be known by our eagerness and enthusiasm; always willing to sacrifice time and energy for our cause. AuthenticityWe aspire to be open, real and honest in all that we do, with a clear understanding of our motivations. CompassionWe want everyone we encounter to feel valued and loved for who they are. Boldness We take risks to overcome societal and cultural stereotypes; we challenge unhealthy cultural influences imposed on men and their friendships. Perseverance We accept the difficulty in front of us, and are determined to finish what we've started. IntegrityWe acknowledge that we are not perfect, however, it is our responsibility to be trustworthy and ethical in all our actions.
