Page 32 - Winning Women 2017

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BOYS TO MEN The programme aims to encourage boys to grown into responsible young men PHOTO: ISTOCK
teenage pregnancies are two huge EDUCATE
EDUCATE
PHELOKAZI MBUDE
ntimate partner violence and
Iproblems affecting South Africa. But
they are being addressed with a project
ENLIGHTEN
designed for young boys to encourage
positive behaviour. ENLIGHTEN
The Boys to Men programme aims to
positively influence young boys and
strengthening their knowledge to
“The Businesswomen’s Association EMPOWER
become good citizens who are an asset
to their families, communities and EMPOWER
country.
realised that there is a need in society
to teach these young men how to
handle challenges and empower them, growing into men who abuse, rape and that boys have misguided ideas about
and also open avenues that they can murder women and children,” says relationships with girls.
use,” says Roshini Naidu, project Thembisile Ngcobo, who works with the “They need guidance when they go
champion of the Boys to Men programme in Nkande, a rural area in into relationships. Some of them feel
programme. KwaZulu-Natal. pressured to have a girlfriend,” says
Earlier this year, increased “Boys don’t understand relationships; Ngcobo.
conversations around issues of femicide they don’t understand love because She adds that boys tend to think that
and abuse flooded social media under they don’t see that in their homes,” says having sex proves you love someone
the hashtag “men are trash”. Ngcobo. and that it’s the only expression of love
The conversation was driven by “They don’t have positive male role in a relationship.
numerous prominent cases involving models around them. Some live with “When a girl doesn’t want to have sex
violence against women. their grandmothers and have uncles with them they get angry and start a
These include kwaito star Arthur who drink a lot or take drugs.” quarrel.”
Mafokate being accused of assaulting Naidu believes that, because the According to Ngcobo these
his girlfriend, another musician – majority of perpetrators of violence misconceptions result in pregnancies or
Brickz – being found guilty of rape, against women and children are men, intimate partner violence.
and Deputy Minister of Higher by “reaching out to the boys, at a Ngcobo says more intervention is
Education Mduduzi Manana being crucial stage in their development, urgently needed in her community. She
forced to step down after he when they are entering high school”, has the desire to help but lacks
admitted to assaulting two women this behaviour can be addressed. resources.
at a nightclub. “Emotional intelligence is using the “I would like to run more
“The main intention of the power of emotions to change mindsets programmes for the boys that include
programme is to educate, enlighten and in a positive way. It [results in] a more their families,” she says.
empower young men to respect women, compassionate and effective society.” “But because they are in the rural
be non-violent and prevent them from Ngcobo says one of the main issues is areas it becomes difficult.”