HOW TO END GENDER BASED VIOLENCE?
FOCUS ON THE BOYCHILD.
After over 12 years of working in the development sector in some of the most impoverished and violent communities in South Africa, we have observed the following…
Over 50% of the children we work with come from homes where fathers are absent. Those whose fathers are present are often harsh and authoritarian, or verbally and physically abusive.
Most of the Primary School teachers are female and often those who are male are incredibly strict and punitive.
Most NGO staff and social workers are female.
THERE IS A DESPERATE ABSENCE OF POSITIVE MALE ROLE MODELS IN OUR COMMUNITIES!
Internationally, there is an overwhelming focus in the development sector for interventions working with girls, as well as programmes supporting women and children.
THERE ARE VIRTUALLY NO PROGRAMMES AND SUPPORT FOCUSING ON BOYS AND YOUNG MEN!
The gangs start recruiting boys from as young as 10 years old!
With so few examples of what a strong, respectful, responsible & gentle man is – how do we expect them to choose a different path?
With so few people offering them time, guidance, support & love – how do we expect them to choose a different path?
HOW DO WE BREAK THIS CYCLE?
This year there has been a dramatic increase in the media about the gang violence on the Cape Flats.
There has also been a recent increase in the media about the staggering statistics of women and girls falling victim to rape and murder in South Africa.
The response is often a call for more police presence, more imprisonment & harsher punishments.
But what are we doing to get to the root causes of these disturbing societal realities?
Yes, these problems are incredibly complex. However, if we do not start taking collective and conscious action focusing on boys and young men, how will this cycle ever be broken?
IT STARTS WITH OUR BOYS…
Our boys need to be loved, held and
nurtured – not told to be tough, rough and never cry.
Our young men need to be supported, listened to and believed in – not harshly
punished, put down and neglected.
We understand if you feel saddened and helpless. We understand if you feel outraged and afraid. However, what if we took the energy and strength of those feelings, and put them behind something that creates rather than destroys? What if we gave our voices and actions to something that strengthens the vision of what we want, rather than what we don’t want?
Please tag organisations who are working with young boys. Let’s give them our support!
#enoughisenough #boychild #girlchild #southafrica #stopgenderbasedviolence #amInext #healing #yogaheals #yogafogaforpeace #yogaforeveryone #nextgeneration #endtheviolence