For International Men’s Day, we’re celebrating men who make a difference, those who show that strength comes through empathy, patience, and understanding. For Hambi Pappas, a SEN Teaching Assistant, those values guide everything he does.

“Lots of schools are missing male teachers, but we need to make sure they are the right ones.”

Hambi has built his career around helping young people understand themselves and their emotions. After years working in behaviour management and therapy schools, he’s learned that the key to progress often starts long before the lesson plan.

 

“I call myself a behaviour specialist, that’s my strong point. I’ve worked in therapy schools in East London and worked in behaviour management. It’s about seeing the signs of bad behaviour before the child does and helping them understand what their triggers are and what they can control.”

 

For many boys, especially those growing up without male role models, that kind of understanding is rare and vital. Hambi explains how much of his work focuses on helping students who are struggling emotionally, giving them a space to talk and be heard.

 

“A lot of children in therapy schools have no men in their lives; they are raised by grandparents or other family members. They can relate to me and I can have those conversations that they enjoy. I tell them my life story and they see there is hope for them too.”

It’s this openness, the willingness to share his own experiences that makes Hambi a trusted figure for his students. His approach isn’t just about managing behaviour; it’s about building confidence, resilience, and connection.

Reflecting on his own school days, Hambi remembers the teacher who helped him find his voice.

 

“In primary school, I was really quiet and very shy. My mum was worried and asked the teacher for drama group after school. So, I went along and I just came alive. My imagination ran wild. I could escape this world and be playful. He really pushed that and my love for theatre all grew from there.”

That early encouragement shaped not just his career, but his belief in the power of positive influence, something he now strives to offer his own students. Hambi’s love of drama continues to inspire how he works with children today.

 

“One school I worked in saw my skills in drama and wanted me to lead the classes even though I was a TA. I found a lot of the pupils had a rawness and they could tap into something that you can’t teach.”

 

Education, he says, needs more men who can offer that balance of empathy and example.

 

“You have got to prove yourself. We are lacking young, energetic, forward-thinking men. Some people have a natural ability to communicate with young people, but men don’t see the appeal. It is hard work, but it’s stable. We will always need teachers.”

As we mark International Men’s Day, Hambi’s story is a reminder of how important it is for boys to see men who listen, care, and show strength through compassion. In every classroom he steps into, Hambi isn’t just teaching, he’s showing what it means to be a role model.

 

“It makes you appreciate what you do have and who has been there for you. That’s why I love working with young people. They see someone who will listen to them.”

 

For Hambi, connection is everything. His work shows that education isn’t only about lessons or exams, it’s about trust, belonging and helping young people believe in their potential.

 

This International Men’s Day, we celebrate people like Hambi who use their experiences to uplift others.