Positive role models for boys
ALEXANDRA - A development organisation combined the celebration of fathers and national youth days' day for boys in Alexandra in a creative and informative way.
A development organisation in Alex combined the celebration of Fathers and National Youth days’ in a day for boys in a creative and informative way.
Rays of Hope is a non-profit organisation that supports orphans, child-headed households and the elderly with psycho-social services for their emotional healing, personal development and stability. It hosted a programme called Boys to Men at Altrek Sports Complex which was attended by 26 grade 4 to 9 boys, as well as 18 fathers, uncles, brothers and mentors.
The programme informed the boys – most of them fatherless – about the importance of manhood in their lives and in the growth and development of their own children in the future. They were exposed to men’s roles of care and protection, development of positive characteristics, values, morals in children, respect for others, and in providing guidance in the home.
The boys said their problem of absent fathers created fragile egos, made them vulnerable to peer pressure, and forced them to rely on role models who exposed them to anti-social activities like substance abuse, crime, and violence. It also created a lack of respect and a need to have power over women. They said the men they relied on had also been brought up in fatherless homes, lacked positive communication skills, and were not good role models.
The programme was led by a woman, Palesa Nopote (22), who was supported by a team of boys. Despite a positive father figure in her life she was drawn to the programme from experiences of her fatherless friends.
“This led to their dropping out of school, early pregnancies and fatherhood at an early age with no parenting skills and resources to start a family. Positive fathers could have curbed the neglect, helped them withstand peer pressure and shaped positive characters in them,” she said.
For Nopote, the programme encouraged the fathers and guardians to be present in their male children’s lives through conscious engagement, showing knowledgeable awareness of their issues, and by contributing solutions to their challenges in the home.
