Dr Haseeb Riaz and Gareth Shanthikumar had their fair share of challenges growing up including struggling with negative emotions and transitioning from high school to adult life.
Haseeb and Gareth felt that negative stereotypes of masculinity were harming young men, so they established MAN UP to help young men strengthen their mental health, communicate openly and build pathways to healthier lives. Through workshops on male culture, respectful relationships and emotional coping, they provide boys with safe, relatable spaces to explore identity, relationships and emotional literacy.
At MAN UP, Haseeb and Gareth address the root causes of poor mental health and gender-based violence, equipping boys with tools for self-awareness and empathy before harmful behaviours take root. Both founders continue to volunteer their time to MAN UP alongside their professional careers. Together, they’ve reached thousands of students and have built partnerships with educators, community leaders and mental health advocates across Australia.