23/11/2025
HOW TO END GENDER BASED VIOLENCE? FOCUS ON THE BOYCHILD.
After nearly two decades of working in some of the most impoverished and violent communities in South Africa, we continue to see the same pattern repeating itself.
More than 60% of the children we work with come from homes where fathers are absent. Of the fathers who are present, many struggle with unemployment, trauma, or substance abuse.
Most Primary School teachers are female, and many of the few male teachers are authoritarian 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 a strong focus on interventions working with girls and programmes supporting women and children.
THERE ARE VERY FEW 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?
In the past few years, we have seen a dramatic increase in the gang violence on the Cape Flats.
In the past year alone, South Africa has continued to record some of the highest rates of violence against women and children in the world.
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.
LET’S BE PART OF THE CHANGE.
Tag and support organisations working with boys and young men.
Let’s raise boys who are emotionally literate, compassionate, conscious, and accountable.
Let’s build communities where boys grow into men who heal, not harm.
This is how cycles break.
This is how a country changes.
This is how we end GBV.
